By Sebastian Noronha
Isn’t it a tad unfair; the way that we are dealing with the Coal issue?
All our lives we have utilised electricity and steel, both of which make use of coal for its production. I agree that we were stuck with this evil for want of viable alternatives. As per Wikipedia the earliest recognised use of coal is in China from 4,000 BC. Ever since coal has been the front-runner as an energy resource, primarily burned for the production of electricity and heat. Petroleum comes only second to coal as a source of energy. However, mankind has made great progress and technological advances, and today we do have various alternatives to coal in the form of renewable energy options like wind-power, hydro-power, solar energy, etc.
Global warming, the butterfly effect, the alarming rise in pollution levels, pollution-related health disorders, etc, have created a global awareness about the evils of coal and its usage. It is imperative that we finally eliminate the use of coal completely. However, we have to come to the stark realisation that a transition on such a large scale cannot take effect immediately. There are innumerable things that need to be considered. It is not like a switch that can be flicked from “coal” to “no coal”. It is very easy to say, “I have used coal-generated power and products all my life. I’m now 88 years old. I don’t want my children and grandchildren to bear the ill-effects of the usage of coal. So from tomorrow I am banning the use of coal!”….reeks of hypocrisy, doesn’t it?
Recently, it was in the news that some 22 countries have held hands in the march towards phasing out coal. And our social media went into over-drive and is rife with discussions on how and why India should join the bandwagon. If one pays close attention to this global coal movement it will be observed that it consists of countries like United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand, etc; countries which are far more advanced and technologically light-years ahead of India. These countries and their infrastructure are already in place to handle the transition from coal-related manufacturing processes and coal-generated power to alternate sources. If not completely equipped then these countries are at least more than halfway there, and as the coal-ban takes effect they will be fully prepared for the transition without any uncomfortable interim gap.
Let us ask ourselves these questions: Are we as a country equipped to take such a big leap? Have we even started readying ourselves to brace such a big change? Shouldn’t we first prepare ourselves for the big change, before making the change itself?
Let me put this in perspective. What we seem to be doing is what many of us might have done early in our careers; we left a job for better prospects but we quit the old job before finding that new job. We were left in the lurch many-a-time; jobless and not knowing where to go. Do we want the same scenario with this coal issue as well? Imagine a day in the future where we have fought tooth-and-nail with the system and managed to finally ban coal completely, and then we look at each others’ face blankly, asking each other, “Now what?!!”. A classic ‘Catch 22’ situation, isn’t that right?
Secondly, if we are mature enough to realise, over the last decade or so we as a state have become a despicably and pathetically cynical lot. We are rampantly cultivating an “oppose” culture. Anything and everything is indiscriminately opposed with even being given a second look or second thought. Nine out of ten times we do not know what we are opposing. Our decisions and affiliations have moved from being logical and full of reason, to being politically coloured.
Let me again put this in perspective using a typical scenario: Let us say we manage to get a total ban on coal without having the necessary infrastructure for an alternate power-source in place. Let us for once assume that coal is completely banned and we have to switch to an alternate power source. Now, if there is a proposal to setup a solar power plant somewhere in Goa, I am one hundred per cent sure (and I can bet my right arm on this), there will be this set of peole who will start an opposing movement to that as well. It is amusing to watch how these half-witted people come up with dumbfounded logic and absurd reasoning to support their claims. Now try proposing a large scale wind-turbine setup, and then come back and tell me what you experience. I for one can almost vividly see the protests that will take place then; a group of 1,000 people holding placards and banners of which 917 people will not even know what exactly is being opposed.
One more pitiable attitude that I have noticed on social media and otherwise too, especially amongst my Goan brethren, is that of selfishness. We seem to be fine with utilising the benefits of coal-generated electricity and the use of steel produced from burning coal, but only just as long this coal is mined, transported, and used outside Goa. We do not seem to care that the same coal and it’s use that we are protesting against is polluting some other place and ‘killing’ some other people somewhere else in India. As long as it is not in our backyard is fine; that is the outlook! The view is such: “Please do not bring any coal to Goa; we do not want the pollution. Feel free to pollute any other place; kill other people, but please, oh please send me the electricity that is generated from the coal.” Selfishness at its pinnacle!
We want to enjoy the fruits without having to go through the trouble of planting and nurturing the tree! If that is not being selfish then somebody please tell me what is!
