Coal to clean transformation will need structural transformation of age-old communities
In Jharkhand, industries such as steel and iron depend on cheap coal for power. Photo: iStock Jharkhand’s latest solar policy is admirable, with several ambitious objectives. What can prove to be challenging, though, is its seamless execution, considering the socioeconomic fabric of the state and its connection with coal.
India’s mineral-rich eastern state has rejigged the solar policy after seven years, nearly doubling the target from 2,650 MW in 2020 to 4,000 MW by 2026.
The state has also announced a separate policy to promote rooftop solar in the coming years. Furthermore, it has proposed increasing renewable purchase obligations (RPO) for distribution companies from 2 per cent to 12.5 per cent for 2023-24.
Read more: Chhattisgarh Assembly passes resolution against Hasdeo coal mining
In addition, the land of forests has also envisioned creating model solar villages. It has also suggested deploying power from the distributed generation of renewable energy to support agro-based livelihood applications, like cold storage units for farm produce, solarising water pumps for irrigation, etc.
From exemptions to incentives, there is no doubt that Jharkhand’s New Solar Policy 2022 is well-intentioned, progressive and investor friendly.
While the proposed approach for solarising the state does not directly impact its age-old coal communities, their structural transformation, in and beyond Jharkhand, needs an action plan as we go from coal to clean in the long run.
It might seem surprising, but on a global level, coal-based energy production is going up and it’s been going up steadily for the last 40 years. At a larger scale, the per capita electricity consumption in the labour-intensive industrial pockets has doubled since 1990.
Coal is the most significant fuel source used for electricity production worldwide. In Jharkhand, other industries — such as steel and iron — depend on cheap coal for power.
While India is taking steps towards fuelling its ever-increasing energy requirement with green resources, like many other global economies, peeling off the multi-layered dependence on coal will take much longer than imagined — more so for coal producers like Jharkhand.
India is the world’s second-largest producer and consumer of coal; this fact cannot be overlooked or overcome in an instant. Coal is not only powering the electricity requirements but also the employment opportunities in India. Jharkhand alone has about 300,000 people directly dependent on mining for their livelihood.
In addition to this number, a vast human resource is invested indirectly in the coal supply chain. The threat, if at all, looming on the coal mines of Jharkhand at present is more to do with the unpromising state of the coal economy. The bigger vision, driven by sustainability imperatives, is bound to face more resistance from coal communities.
People have a strong identity tied to coal mining or being an energy-producing community. Being asked to reimagine what their entire community will look like for reasons that don’t seem as significant to them as their livelihood will need much more than a roadmap of bringing in a technological shift.
Jharkhand is one of the leading states in terms of economic growth today. Ironically it also ranks high in the list of India’s poorest states. While the biggest corporates have a presence in Jharkhand supporting the pro-development ideology, the potential of local participation has not been tapped to its fullest.
There are challenges at the execution level and even at the acquisition level apart from this. Some of India’s most extensive protected forests cover almost one-third of Jharkhand, and another 40 per cent is farmland, many of which are owned by Jharkhand’s many Adivasi communities.
These communities have inalienable rights to their lands through laws like the Chhota Nagpur Tenancy Act, 1908 and the Santhal Paranagas Tenancy Act, 1949, prohibiting the transfer of Adivasi lands to non-tribals.
As part of Jharkhand’s New Solar Policy 2022, utility-scale solar projects require much land. The government has tried to address the land acquisition concerns by offering to procure or lease private lands for solar power development. Still, a smooth transition occurs only when the locals, including the tribals, are made part of the green value chain.
A clean energy value chain offers many jobs. From solar PV installations to operations and maintenance, most of the solar sector jobs require some technical training. If planned right, these jobs are quite accessible for non-skilled workers, especially those at the lower end of the skill spectrum, including women.
The other short-term job opportunities can be related to the closing of the mines (if and when it happens in the long run). First, remediation will be required on the mining land, and then, it will be repurposed for clean energy solutions.
Many of these jobs will be labour-intensive and construction work-oriented, and these jobs can be for the unorganised sector in Jharkhand for at least three to four years until they are skilled for even better prospects. The catch, though, is running reskilling initiatives starting now.
Another opportunity that needs to be leveraged the most to help these communities expand their perspectives towards solar is setting up solar power off grids. With complete grid dependency at present, continuing daily operations in remote areas is a challenge.
When people experience the benefits of off-grid and even hybrid solar solutions, they will realise how solar energy can empower them in more ways than one.
Read more: Reading 2021 NCRB report: Jump in forest-related crimes in Jharkhand
Jharkhand’s new solar policy offers a subsidy of up to 80 per cent of the overall installation cost to people with an annual income of less than Rs 3 lakh. Building solar-powered communities that are not just the recipients but torchbearers of solar energy can instil a greater sense of belonging and responsibility towards the transition at the root level.
Shifting from coal is central to climate change. Significant inroads in air quality can happen with reduced carbon emissions. But coal is also central to people’s lives. Heating, electricity, manufacturing, or jobs, if we can demonstrate to people that a transition can be brought about in a just way, it can support faster adoption.
Parallelly engaging communities with solar energy while disengaging with coal is the only way to proceed. A sudden shift can neither be achieved nor is it the right thing to do.
Views expressed are the author’s own and don’t necessarily reflect those of Down To Earth
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