Majority of the healthcare workers are against coal mine expansion, survey finds

A recent survey finds that 90% of the healthcare workers believe that PM Narendra Modi should focus on unleashing renewable energy and not unleash coal. The survey was conducted via facebook by the Clean Air Collective, a coalition of civil society groups working on air pollution and health related issues. According to the survey, 95% of the respondents believe that burning of coal causes air pollution which in turn causes respiratory related health issues.

The survey was conducted via facebook and aimed towards those who identify as being healthcare workers, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and so on. Close to 258 respondents who affirmed being healthcare professionals as well as affirmed being aware of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat plan.  

Aatmanirbhar Bharat plan was announced as part of the covid19 economic recovery package. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had, on May 16, announced opening up the coal mining industry to the private sectors as part of that plan. The plan also included auctioning 50 new coal mines with an average life span of 50 years. The government hopes to attract foreign mining companies such as Rio Tinto and BHP even when many of these companies have started to move away from investing in the coal industry. 

While all of the respondents were aware of PM Modi’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat plan, only 40% of the respondents were aware that the plan also included coal mine expansion. 95% of the respondents believe that burning more coal will lead to more air pollution. The survey found that 88% of healthcare workers believe that fighting pandemics such as covid19, that affect human respiratory systems, becomes all the more difficult if air pollution increases.

In 2018, the United Nations included air pollution as the 5th leading cause of death due to non-communicable diseases. A paper in The Lancet established that most comorbidities among COVID-19 patients are hypertension, diabetes, coronary and cardiovascular diseases, all direct result of high levels of air pollution. A paper by Xiao Wu and Rachel Nethery from Harvard University concluded that with every increase in PM2.5 microgram per cubic meter resulted in a 15% increase in covid19 deaths. 

About Clean Air Collective: 

Clean Air Collective is a network of civil society organisations, citizen groups & experts working on the issue of air pollution spread across India in 25 cities and 12 states. Started in July 2017, the Collective works towards bringing people and organisations together for a constructive dialogue to achieve social change.

Reactions/ Quotes:     

“This survey result indicates that Health care workers have read the pulse of India’s environmental future. The health care workers message to us is that good public health should be at the heart of any development story for India in a post-COVID world.” 

Shweta Narayan, Director, Healthy Energy Initiative India 

“While countries like Sweden, Belgium, Austria & now Germany go coal free, India during the  pandemic is set to auction 50 coal mines that will have adverse impact on forests & indigenous communities. The only chances for India to have a bright future is when we stop investing in coal, reduce emission from existing coal and shut them down in a phased manner making energy transition to renewable energy. This will not only help reduce India’s contribution to global climate change but will also improve the local air quality and will result in huge health as well as economic benefits. Which health worker will deny this?”

Bhavreen Kandhari,  #MyRightToBreathe 

“The whole objective of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat plan was to be self-sufficient and increase our ability to deal with such pandemics. However coal should not be included in that plan since it will most certainly lead to increased air pollution and a host of troubles locally as well as in India's broader energy policy”

Aarti Khosla, Director, Climate Trends

“It's almost like we are moving backwards. The whole world is moving away from coal. Several studies in India have shown the adverse effects of pollution caused by coal mining on the health of communities living within coal mining areas. Especially on the respiratory system. Those effects in themselves were harmful enough affecting life and longevity. Now with the added covid factor it will also increase the vulnerability and mortality to covid. Adivasi Community is most impacted by coal mining for so long they have been struggling to save their land raising the issue of their health. It's time we hear them.”

Rinchin, Writer/ Activist  and resident of Raigarh, Chhattisgarh

“In recent times, we have heard from many patients and their families about the perils of air pollution. This survey speaks to healthcare professionals who should be seen as an important voice in India's environmental movement. They recognise that the Indian government's legal amendments to facilitate the auction of 80 coal blocks for profit oriented mining is a blow to the public health system. It pushes us from the frying pan to the fire.”

Manju Menon, Senior Researcher, Center for Policy Research