A New Push for an Old Fuel
Despite a global shift towards renewable energy, India is doubling down on coal to power its economic growth and meet surging electricity needs, driven by more frequent and intense heatwaves. Recent government plans aim to substantially increase domestic
coal production, with a significant number of new mining projects proposed, particularly in the states of Jharkhand and Odisha. This expansion is part of a strategy to produce nearly 1.15 billion tonnes in the 2025-26 fiscal year, reducing reliance on imports and ensuring a stable power supply. While India has also made impressive strides in solar and wind power, coal remains the backbone of the energy system, accounting for over 70% of electricity generation. Proponents argue this is a necessary step for energy security, but it places immense pressure on regions that have borne the cost of mining for decades.
The Existing Environmental Toll
India's coal belts, concentrated in states like Jharkhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh, are already living with the profound environmental consequences of decades of mining. The process of opencast mining strips the land of topsoil and forests, leading to irreversible land degradation and habitat loss. Studies show that mining activities lead to severe air and water pollution. Coal dust and toxic gases released from mines and transport contribute to high rates of respiratory illnesses, including chronic bronchitis and asthma, among local populations. Research from government bodies like the Indian Council of Medical Research has confirmed that people living near mines show measurable lung damage and exposure to heavy metals, with health risks comparable to those of mine workers themselves. The problem is so acute that in some areas, the burden of diseases like tuberculosis is nearly double the national average.
Water, Forests, and Land at Risk
The new proposals threaten to intensify the damage to India's natural resources. Many of the proposed new coal blocks are located in dense, biodiverse forests, including ecologically sensitive areas like the Hasdeo Arand forest in Chhattisgarh. Clearing these forests for mining not only destroys critical habitats for wildlife but also disrupts major river systems. Mining operations are a major source of water contamination. Acid mine drainage, the outflow of acidic water from mines, pollutes rivers and streams with heavy metals, rendering the water unfit for consumption and agriculture. Furthermore, the constant pumping of water out of underground mines lowers the surrounding water table, creating shortages for local communities. This combination of deforestation and water pollution creates a devastating cycle, degrading the very resources that rural and indigenous communities depend on for their survival.
The Incalculable Human Cost
Beyond the environmental data lies a story of profound human suffering. For the Adivasi (indigenous) and other local communities living in these resource-rich regions, new mining projects often mean forced displacement and the loss of ancestral lands and livelihoods. Promises of employment in the mines often fail to materialize or provide sustainable income, leaving displaced families in a precarious position. The social fabric of these communities is torn apart. Health crises are rampant, with studies consistently linking proximity to mines with higher rates of respiratory diseases, skin conditions, and other ailments. Despite decades of resource extraction that has fuelled the nation's growth, many of these mining districts remain among the poorest in the country, lacking basic infrastructure like primary healthcare centres. The expansion of mining threatens to deepen this cycle of poverty and marginalization for the people who pay the highest price for the country's energy.
