Pongamia power enables Adilabad villagers to export carbon credits to Germany
When Gond tribals of Chalpadi village in Adilabad district, Andhra Pradesh agreed this April to export 900 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in emission reduction little did they realise the impact their action would create. The news was splashed in local newspapers. Neighbouring villagers and government officials came to witness K Marubai sign the agreement on behalf of her fellow villagers in Chalpadi.
The certified carbon emission reduction was sold to 500ppm, an environmental group from Germany. The reduction comes from replacing diesel fuel with natural oil extracted from the seeds of Pongamia pinnata (karanj) found abundantly in forests in the vicinity of Chalpadi. Recognising the uniqueness of the project and its benefits, Ingo Puhl, managing director of 500ppm, purchased ten years' supply of emission reduction