India’s support for relaxed pollution regulations while allowing coal giants to ramp up production reveals a troubling stance that endangers both public health and the environment. By bending to the pressure of coal industry titans, the government sends a grim message that prioritising industrial demands outweighs protecting communities from toxic emissions; a decision with irreversible impacts.
This approach threatens India’s own climate targets, as coal continues to dominate its energy mix. Increasing coal production alongside weakened pollution safeguards undermines national and international pledges to reduce emissions. Instead of fostering the transition to renewable energy, these policies anchor India further to fossil fuels, damaging ecosystems and aggravating the nation’s vulnerability to climate disasters.
The health implications are equally dire. Weak pollution standards increase fine particulate emissions, which lead to respiratory diseases, premature deaths, and skyrocketing healthcare costs. Communities near coal plants bear the brunt, as toxic air compounds environmental and social inequalities, trapping them in cycles of illness and poverty.
India’s path forward should recognise that prioritising coal at the expense of environmental health is unsustainable. By reversing these lenient pollution policies and committing to cleaner energy sources, the government can lead a responsible, health-conscious energy transition that safeguards the well-being of its people and the planet.
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As the country faces mounting challenges with pollution and climate change, it’s becoming clear that transitioning away from coal and toward renewable energy is key to securing a sustainable future.
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In country expanding faster than its capacity to innovate its resources. It takes a strong government to change direction for all to benifit
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@gary_blair This is not a strong willed government. I'm so scared of what happens when this trend ultimately continues
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It is true that the coal is mostly uses on large scale in my areas that is now a primary factor of climate change and poor people are unknown on this big change and also helpless due higher cost of renewable energy. The heat of urban areas increases due to coal burning for different purposes, it is need to invest in India on renewable energy largely and also urgently because " We Don't have time"
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@mdshahab_uddin India's unwillingness to invest in renewable energy and cut on fossil based fuels should worry the world a lot as it could mean more countries could gain confidence in polluting.
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I like all the comments and it is better to make better environment as possible for better planet, "AWorld "
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India still clinging on to the coal industry is very retrogressive.All the progress made in the solar harnessing program is watered down by this careless attachment to coal!!
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@Kevin Exactly. Why invest in renewables if you are also greatly investing in coal and other fossil fuels? Is it just for show?
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This is a ticking time bomb, India must move away from coal and purpose to create a sustainable future and most importantly prioritize protecting public health.
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Disheartening to see industry interests overshadow public health
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Pollution regulations are there to protect people, not bend to industry pressure
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It's about time that we took the issue of Climate change seriously so as to safe guard our future and that of our future generations.
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This is wrong..why are people so reckless...it's time to deal with climate change and not worsen it.
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This is very wrong, this threatens irreversible harm through increased toxic emissions, undermining climate commitments & community welfare alike.All its citizens are entitled to clean air,.
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This poses a serious threat not only to public health but also to its climate commitments.
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@frankoh_kihm_080 But this problem has been there, it is unfortunate that the government is doing nothing.
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This is so heartbreaking. This is going to have a detrimental effect on the efforts of global push for climate action. #MoveTheMoney#ThereIsNoPlanetB
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@walter_lungayi India should stop moving with such reckless abandon !
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This is so reckless..If India doesn’t pivot away from coal, it risks locking itself into a cycle of pollution and health crises that will haunt generations to come.
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@princess_nel_268 It seems that the government is not taking any action to prevent further crisis!!
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@princess_nel_268 Yes it borders on recklessness and absolute lack of morals!!