India’s Dependence on Coal: A Double-Edged Sword

Context

A new report titled “Regulating Coal Operations: Environmental and Social Impacts through the Lens of the NGT” was released in New Delhi.

The report emphasizes that coal will continue to play a dominant role in India’s energy system for many decades, making environmental degradation and health risks unavoidable. It underscores the importance of involving local communities in decision-making and calls for health impact assessments in coal-rich regions.

India’s Dependence on Coal

Why India Depends Heavily on Coal

• Energy Security: Over 70% of India’s power generation (2022–23) comes from coal. Unlike imported oil and gas, coal offers a degree of energy independence due to abundant domestic reserves (~350 billion tonnes).

• Industrial Backbone: Thermal power fuels industries like steel, cement, aluminium, fertiliser, and railways. Coal’s affordability and reliability help industries withstand global energy market volatility.

• Cost and Infrastructure Lock-In: Coal plants are relatively cheaper to construct and operate for long periods. Existing investments in railways, coal-handling systems, and state utilities reinforce dependence.

• Employment: Millions in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and West Bengal rely on coal mining for their livelihoods, making a sudden shift politically and socially challenging.

• Renewable Limitations: Despite growth, solar and wind face challenges in storage, grid stability, and round-the-clock supply, keeping coal as the primary baseload energy source.

• Transition Barriers: Insufficient financing, limited technology transfer, and lack of worker reskilling plans slow down the pace of decarbonisation.

Environmental and Health Consequences

• Air Pollution: Coal regions record PM10 levels up to five times the safe limit (e.g., Jharia, Ennore).

• Water Contamination: Fly ash leaks pollute rivers and reduce soil fertility.

• Biodiversity Loss: Mining operations clear forests and fragment wildlife habitats.

• Public Health Risks: Coal pollution is linked to silicosis, respiratory illnesses, and neurological issues from heavy metals and fly ash.

• Livelihood Impacts: Farming, fishing, and livestock rearing are severely affected, often leading to poverty and migration.

Governance and Regulatory Gaps

• Weak Enforcement: Some plants manipulate emissions data (e.g., Ennore).

• Inconsistent Compensation: Farmers in Mejia and Chandrapur face delays or inadequate payouts.

• Exclusion of FRA Rights: Tribal and forest communities are often sidelined from consent processes under the Forest Rights Act (2006).

• Superficial Participation: Local voices rarely find space in regulatory decision-making.

Key Recommendations from the Report

• Health Impact Assessments (HIAs): To be made mandatory alongside Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs).

• Community Participation: Local committees with villagers, NGOs, and experts should oversee restoration and monitoring.

• Independent Monitoring: Continuous third-party audits of air, water, soil, and health indicators.

• Mission-Mode Restoration: Central and state authorities must treat clean-up efforts as urgent.

• Just Transition Strategy: Integrate equity, livelihood alternatives, and worker skill training into coal exit plans.

The Way Forward

• Diversify Energy Sources: Expand solar, offshore wind, and green hydrogen to reduce coal dependence.

• Just Transition Fund: Establish financial mechanisms for coal worker rehabilitation and livelihood diversification in mining states.

• Health-Focused Planning: Make HIAs a standard requirement for project approvals.

• Greater Accountability: Strengthen NGT and Pollution Control Boards with authority for community-led oversight.

• Circular Economy: Expand fly ash use in construction materials such as cement, bricks, and roads.

• International Climate Finance: Tap into G-20, the Green Climate Fund, and Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETP) to fund India’s energy transition.

Conclusion

Coal will remain a cornerstone of India’s energy system for decades. However, without strong community involvement, strict regulatory enforcement, and a well-designed just transition plan, the environmental and social costs of coal will far outweigh its economic advantages. India must balance energy security with social equity and climate commitments.

Source : Down to Earth