Editorials/Opinions Analysis For UPSC 18 February 2025

Content:

1. Lighten the pollution burden of thermal power States
2. Mela and melee

Lighten the pollution burden of thermal power States

Context: India’s Climate Commitments and Thermal Power Dependency

• India updated its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement in 2022:
  • Reduce GDP emissions intensity by 45% (from 2005 levels) by 2030.
  • Achieve 50% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
  • However, thermal power still remains dominant in India’s electricity generation mix.

Relevance : GS 3(Environment and Ecology)

Practice Question : The thermal power-producing States in India bear a disproportionate pollution burden while supplying electricity to consuming States. Discuss the challenges faced by these States and suggest a viable compensation mechanism. (250 words)

Contribution of Thermal Power to Pollution

• Thermal power plants are the largest contributors to carbon emissions.
• Power-producing States bear the pollution burden while consuming States benefit.
• Key statistics (as of April 1, 2023):
  • India’s total installed power capacity: 4,56,757 MW.
  • Thermal power capacity: 2,37,268.91 MW (~52% of total capacity).
  • Central sector: 75,377.91 MW (31.77%).
  • State sector: 75,991.905 MW (32.03%).
  • Private sector: 85,899.095 MW (36.20%).
  • Coal-based electricity share: 73.08%.
  • India’s carbon emission from electricity generation: 20,794.36 kg.

Unequal Distribution of Pollution and Electricity Consumption

• Top thermal power-producing States (by non-renewable installed capacity, 2022-23):
  • Maharashtra (31,510.08 MW)
  • Uttar Pradesh (26,729.374 MW)
  • Gujarat (26,073.41 MW)

• However, these States do not consume all the electricity they generate.
• NTPC thermal electricity consumption share (within generating States):
  • Uttar Pradesh: 40%
  • Odisha: 38.43%
  • Chhattisgarh: 29.92%
  • Gujarat (a major importer) consumes 4,612 MW but generates only 17.7 MW under NTPC.

States Bearing the Highest Pollution Burden

• States with the highest thermal power share in electricity generation:
  • Tripura (96.96%)
  • Bihar (95.57%)
  • Chhattisgarh (94.35%)
  • Jharkhand (92.69%)
  • Delhi (87.96%)
  • West Bengal (87.72%)
  • Uttar Pradesh (81.84%)

• Chhattisgarh is the highest net seller of electricity (535.29 MW), followed by:
  • Madhya Pradesh (379.19 MW)
  • Himachal Pradesh (153.43 MW)
  • Rajasthan (135.14 MW)
  • Odisha (95.40 MW)

• Major importers of electricity (2022-23):
  • Gujarat (528.17 MW)
  • Haryana (212.63 MW)
  • Maharashtra (187.50 MW)
  • Delhi (162.97 MW)
  • Punjab (160.82 MW)

Lack of Compensation for Pollution-Bearing States

• Electricity regulation issue:
  • Electricity is a Concurrent subject (Entry 38, List III, Seventh Schedule).
  • States cannot levy taxes on electricity generation but can tax consumption and sale.
  • The Ministry of Power (October 2023) prohibited additional taxes on electricity generation.
  • Electricity is exempt from GST, so producing States do not get tax revenue.
• Coal-rich producing States (Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha) have low per capita electricity consumption.
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) spending by power companies is insufficient for environmental damage.
• National Clean Energy and Environment Fund is meant for renewable energy promotion, not direct compensation.

Need for a Compensation Mechanism

• Negative externality problem: Pollution burden is concentrated in producer States while consumer States benefit.

• Possible solutions:
  • Taxation mechanism:
    • Allow producer States to levy a tax on thermal power generation.
    • Alternatively, the Union government collects the tax and redistributes it.

• Finance Commission allocation:The 16th Finance Commission should create a fiscal roadmap considering climate commitments.Previous Finance Commissions have recommended fund transfers for environmental concerns

Mela and melee

Introduction:

• The Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj is the largest religious gathering in the world, attracting millions of pilgrims.
• Despite large-scale planning and expenditure, crowd mismanagement led to fatalities, raising concerns over people’s safety vs. political aspirations.
• The recent stampede at the New Delhi railway station exposed systemic gaps in crowd control and public safety measures.

Relevance : GS 3(Disaster Management)

Practice Question : Large-scale religious gatherings pose significant challenges to public safety and infrastructure. Critically analyze the recent crowd management failures at the Maha Kumbh Mela and suggest measures to prevent such tragedies in the future. (250 words)

Key Issues and Concerns:

A. Inadequate Infrastructure and Planning

• ₹7,500 crore allocated for special infrastructure, yet gaps in on-ground execution remain.
• Temporary arrangements, such as AI surveillance, water filters, and special trains, failed to address core safety challenges.
• Overburdened transport hubs and lack of last-mile connectivity led to congestion.

B. Crowd Management Failures

• Stampede at New Delhi Railway Station (Feb 15): Over-selling of tickets (2,600 extra) and miscommunication about train arrival led to chaos.
• January 29 Incident at Maha Kumbh: Failure to control footfall and ensure proper exits contributed to crowd crush.
• Lack of restricted ticketing, multilingual announcements, and clear evacuation routes exacerbated risks.

C. Safety vs. Aspirations

• Push for spiritual tourism and record-breaking footfall numbers overlooks practical limitations of infrastructure.
• Unrealistic claims of hosting 45 crore people risk compromising basic safety measures.

Lessons for Public Safety and Governance

A. Need for Long-Term Infrastructure Upgrades

• Permanent expansion of railway stations at major pilgrimage hubs.
• Advance digital monitoring for real-time crowd control.
• Improved connectivity through dedicated transport corridors.

B. Proactive Crowd Control Mechanisms

• Restricted ticketing and pre-registration systems for controlled entry.
• Deployment of trained personnel for ground-level crowd regulation.
• Use of AI and predictive analytics to assess crowd density and risks.

C. Clear, Multilingual Public Communication

• Pre-scheduled departure points for trains to avoid mass confusion.
• Digital signages and real-time alerts in multiple languages.
• Public announcements clarifying train movements and routes.

D. Accountability and Emergency Preparedness

• Holding officials accountable for lapses in safety measures.
• Mock drills and contingency planning for large events.
• Setting up independent audits for assessing safety at large gatherings.