70% of the electricity generation in India is dependent on coal. Due to the increase in demand for electricity and the decrease in coal supply, such a situation is being feared.
The country is forced to import coal despite having such substantial coal reserves. India is the second-largest coal importer in the world. There is difficulty importing coal from abroad, so power generating units have become dependent on coal produced in India.
Coal imported from abroad has become very expensive. The effect of international coal inflation and reduction in supply will also harm India's economy. People struggling with the inflation of petrol, diesel, cooking gas can also be affected by the cost of electricity.
The conditions in the field of coal are entirely uncertain. From an environmental point of view, India has to reduce its dependence on coal due to international groups. Domestic coal production has also come down. The next four-five months are going to be very difficult for India. The Government of India will also need to take steps not to affect our economy by this crisis.
Everything depends on electricity. In such a situation, the lack of electricity cannot be considered suitable for India in this era. There is no immediate solution to the shortage of coal. India must find an alternative to coal. But the shift to renewable energy cannot be done so quickly. This problem is not only in India, and this crisis has intensified all over the world. There is a limit to natural resources, how long we will continue to use them. India will now have to do long-term planning in the field of energy.
How will the Indian government stop coal mining on the demand of developed powers? Why can't we live without coal?
Here not only India but the whole world is worried about climate change. India has also expressed its concerns about climate change. To prevent the threat of global warming and pollution, it is essential to reduce the emission of coal.
The world's big powers are demanding a ban on coal mining. How difficult is it for a rapidly developing country like India to lose its most important energy source?
The history of coal mining in India is ancient. The British East India Company started commercial mining coal in 1774 at Raniganj on the west bank of the Damodar River. Mining continued at a relatively slow pace for about a century after that, as there was little demand for coal.
But with the introduction of steam trains in 1853, the demand for coal increased, and mining was encouraged. This was followed by an increase in coal production to about 1 million metric tons annually. By the end of the 19th century, production in India had reached 6.12 million tonnes per annum. And 18 million metric tons annually by 1920.
Production generally increased during World War I but declined again in the early 1930s. Production had increased to 29 million metric tons by 1942 and to 30 million metric tons by 1946. India produces 4.7% of the world's coal.
India produces its energy based on coal. About 70% of the energy is generated from coal. India is the third-largest country in the world that extracts and uses coal on such a large scale. Global carbon emissions are increasing continuously, and India's population and economy are proliferating.
The West is constantly urging India to reduce its carbon emissions, of which coal is the most crucial source. It is one of the dirtiest fuels. It accounts for 70% of India's total energy production.
According to a recent BBC report, 4 million people are directly and indirectly in India's coal industry.
Most of India's coal reserves are in the coal belt states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. Coal is the backbone of the economy in these regions. It is also the lifeline of the local communities, one of India's poorest communities.
State-owned Coal Mining Corporation Coal India Limited (CIL) came into existence in November 1975. With a modest production of 79 million tonnes (MT) in the year of its inception, CIL is today the largest coal producer not only in India but in the world and one of the largest corporate employers with a workforce of 2,59,016 (as of 1 April 2021). is one of. CIL operates through its subsidiaries in 85 mining areas spread over eight (8) states of India. Coal India Limited has 345 mines.
'India cannot survive without coal.'
Before many parts of the country move to clean energy resources, there must be a clear strategy that provides jobs to those dependent on coal and does not leave them behind. If we stop producing coal under pressure from the international community, how will we make a living?
"We can try to address environmental concerns, but it is impossible when it comes to compromising on coal production," say experts.
Most of India's coal mines are in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Orissa. India's coal consumption has nearly doubled in the past decade. The country is importing good quality coal and plans to open dozens of new mines in the coming years. However, the average Indian consumes far less electricity than the United Kingdom or the United States. At the same time, India is moving towards clean energy to generate 40% of its electricity from non-fossil fuels by 2030.
Foreign investment is needed to boost the country's renewable energy projects. We are the largest market for clean energy investment in the world, and we want international investors to come and invest and make good profits in return."
The communities of Odisha remind us that there are considerable challenges in reducing dependence on coal, and much more needs to be done to overcome them. The country's dependence on coal shows that a coal-free future is still far away.
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