Coal is a killer. But it also accounts for 70% of electricity generation in India. The increased use of electricity during the COVID-19 pandemic created a high demand for coal. However, global imports were low due to the worldwide energy crisis. Prices of coal spiked, and with monsoon flooding of domestic coal mines in September, the production further dipped. Additionally, Coal India, India’s principal producer, had dispatch and non-payment concerns.
Amidst shortages, the government is doubling down on efforts to increase coal supply. Coal supply to power plants is gradually rising, which means the government is pushing for production. However, increasing production comes at the cost of India’s ecology and its people.
In March, the government of India pushed to increase coal production to one billion tonnes. The move sparked protests among tribal villages as it called for mining in the dense forests of Chhattisgarh. “This land is our land! This land is our land!”, chanted the protestors.
The Chhattisgarh area of Hasdeo is part of a thick forest, rich in biodiversity and fauna. However, this area is also rich in its coal resources. The Hasdeo Arand forest was formerly declared off-limits to mining; however, the status has slowly eroded through intricate legal and administrative manoeuvring by successive governments.
In 2011, India’s then-environment minister, Jairam Ramesh, allowed three coal blocks in the no-go area on the outskirts of Hasdeo Arand’s woodland. With successive administrations, the protection of these areas has weakened. The Hasdeo woodland is currently in danger from more mining.
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