Animal Power

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Your issue dated January 31, 1998 published an article by H N Ray on the priorities for the new government. One of the agendas advocated strongly was with regard to reforms in the power sector. No doubt, this sector needs attention but unless all sources of energy are integrated, no one-point programme can provide the answer.

In this regard, the Bharatiya Cattle Resource Development Foundation wishes to draw the attention all those concerned to draught animal power (DAP) , which is contributing at least the equivalent of 27,000 mw of power.

The Eighth Plan allocation for DAP was only Rs 1 crore, not even a few paise per animal. The need is to provide at least Rs 500 crore per year. The integration of DAP would also save consumption of fertilisers and pesticides because the available dung in the country has been found to be equivalent of 7.25 million tonnes of urea, 1.60 million tonnes of potash and 1 million tonne of phosphorus.