Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
Movement
of India
September-2010
2010
Bi-Monthly
Rs. 20
Energy
Energy Policy
Policy Special
Special
Source: Central Statistical Organisation (In, Data for Use by Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, 5th April 2010
6
The Movement of India July-August 2010
space) also show that agriculture continues creates massive social, environmental and
to have the lowest growth rate, and its share cultural disruptions, the question of what are
in the GDP is shrinking, while it continues the ends is the most critical question. Since
to employ the greatest number of people. In the planners have not asked this question, it
effect, growth is bypassing – or throwing is important for others, including civil soci-
crumbs at – the largest and the poorest sec- ety, to raise this question, and also seek an-
tions of our citizens. And it is precisely this swers. Till then, no plan can be acceptable.
skewed and unequal growth that the energy/
electricity plan is designed to cater to. A Question of Sustianability
Admittedly, the economy is complexly While the Report proposes a sharp increase
interlinked. Some may argue that agriculture in total primary energy supply and electric-
in India cannot support its huge population, ity consumption per capita in order to achieve
and hence it is necessary for other sectors to the goal of GDP growth, these projections do
grow faster, and absorb the working popula- not really present what level of services will
tion. Others may argue that even for agricul- this energy / electricity offer, and to whom –
ture to grow, it is necessary for other sectors that is, how much lighting, how much elec-
to grow. Both arguments have their merits. tricity for agriculture use, for small busi-
However, neither has the service sector dem- nesses, for large manufacturing etc. The fig-
onstrated that it can create the necessary ures are only derived as a requirement for
employment, nor has the growth in other sec- meeting the 8% growth.
tors led to a strengthening of agriculture. Another critical issue not answered – or even
Indeed, there is enough evidence to show that asked – by the Report is whether these levels
growth in India has been lop-sided, creating of energy and electricity production are
islands of wealth and accumulation, even as achievable.
inequity has increased, and agriculture and To deliver this level of electricity, we will need
those dependent on it suffer. to dam every river many times over, dig out
Therefore, the important question that needs all our coal, build many nuclear power plants,
to be asked is whether the ends (the GDP and over and above this, import huge quan-
growth) justify the means (the electricity and tities of oil, coal and gas. What if the oil,
energy plan of the Planning Commission). coal and gas are too costly for us to import?
That this question has not been asked by the The Report does propose certain measures to
Integrated Energy Plan is its biggest lacu- increase the reliability of imports, but ulti-
nae. For an electricity plan that proposes to mately, a basic uncertainty remains, given the
use the resources of this country – coal, oil, reliance on external elements.
gas, rivers, finances, spends further money What if communities living along rivers, on
importing substantial quantities of fuels – and coal bearing strata, near proposed nuclear