An overview of conflicts against coal in eastern India using critical environmental justice framework

Abstract

Coal in India is considered more than a commodity with diverse social, cultural and political implications. It symbolizes a moral endeavor linked with economic development and nation-building in the popular imaginary. Despite this, extraction and use of coal to produce electricity leads to conflicts, involving marginalized, often indigenous communities. The state of Jharkhand in the eastern part of the country contains the highest coal reserves and has many conflictive mines and thermal power plants. In this article, using the lens of critical environmental justice, I analyze ten cases of coal conflicts in Jharkhand to provide an overview about the people mobilizing, the types of mobilizations and the outcomes. Looking at the four pillars of critical environmental justice scholarship, I analyze in depth one case study to show the need for critical research to study conflicts involving marginalized communities and for expanding the boundaries of the field.