Satyam Abhishek |
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
—Robert Frost (in “The Road Not Taken”)
In this poem, the poet is faced with a choice of two roads that diverge in a wood (better to say in life), and he ultimately decides to take the one that is less traveled by. The lines “I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference” suggest that the speaker made a unique choice, and this decision has had a significant impact on his life.
This fit nicely with the state of Jharkhand, a landlocked state which accounts for 2.7% of the country’s population and 2.4% of its area but is home to 40% of the vital minerals for India, including coal, iron ore, copper, bauxite, graphite, kyanite, limestone, uranium, and others. The second-largest coal deposits in the country are also found here, making up 24.48% of the country’s coal reserves. A state where there has been coal mining and associated economic activity for over a century, where forest cover makes up 29.7% of the state’s total land area, and where tribal people (26.21% of the population) live next to the forest.
To summarise, if India’s verdant green forests, rich trove of mineral reserves, regions of tribal habitation, and watersheds were all drawn together, they would portray a landscape, that is Jharkhand. Nonetheless, there are issues that concern Jharkhand despite its strengths. From a climate perspective, Jharkhand has the highest level of climate sensitivity combined with low adaptive capacity. With 69% of the state’s land area degraded, the state has the highest level of land degradation when seen through the lens of land degradation. From a socio-economic perspective, the state has the second-highest multidimensional poverty rate (42.16% of its population) in India.
Notwithstanding these obstacles, Jharkhand has a bold mindset when it comes to pursuing sustainable development. Since the central government committed to achieving net-zero emissions by the year 2070 at the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow, it is generally known that decarbonization of coal-producing regions like Jharkhand has become crucial. But unlike most states in the nation and around the world, a number of stakeholders in these states are worried about what will happen to the state economies that depend so heavily on the long-established coal sector. Jharkhand has taken the lead and a responsibility to present a canvas as what and how a future-ready state economy should look.
Just like the poet who took the road less traveled, the Government of Jharkhand has embarked on a unique path by forming a task force on sustainable just transition for the state. Just as the poet’s decision made all the difference, this bold step by the government has the potential to make a positive impact on Jharkhand’s energy future and make it future ready in true sense.
Now while the decarbonization of coal-producing areas like Jharkhand has become essential , there are concerns for the state which relies heavily (93.8% of all installed power capacity) on coal-based thermal power. Based on the aforementioned graphical analysis, if I were to discuss the State’s energy situation and draw an analogy it to the poem, we would see that Jharkhand’s power sector has a smaller road than that of its neighbouring states, such as West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha, which have bigger, more established highways with installed power capacity. However, the Government of Jharkhand’s recent steps is like a new lane being added to the smaller road. It’s like creating a separate path for renewable energy, social equity, and environmental sustainability, and taking steps towards a more just and sustainable energy future, despite starting with a smaller installed renewable power capacity, highest land degradation in the country along with highest climate vulnerability.
Just as a new lane can gradually widen and accommodate more traffic, the government’s initiatives can lead to an increase in renewable energy capacity, attracting investments, creating job opportunities, and benefiting the state’s economy and environment. It’s like taking a different route, breaking away from the traditional reliance on fossil fuels, and charting a path towards a more sustainable and equitable energy system. It highlights the potential for Jharkhand to catch up and even surpass its neighboring states in renewable energy capacity, by choosing a different road, leading to a greener, more equitable, and sustainable energy future for the state and its people. It’s like choosing a road that may not be well-travelled, but holds the promise of a greener, more equitable, and sustainable destination. By setting up a task force on sustainable just transition (November 2022) and a taskforce on green hydrogen mission (March, 2023), the government is blazing a trail towards a brighter and cleaner future, showing that sometimes taking the less-traveled road can lead to the most transformative outcomes.
Putting my creativity in the below-mentioned poem in this context best captures how the state government’s vision sets them apart, exemplifies their commitment to change, and paves the way for a just transition in Jharkhand, benefiting its people, economy, and environment alike.
“In Jharkhand, where two roads diverged in a wood,
We chose the one less traveled, as we should,
A unique choice, a bold decision made,
And it’s made all the difference, it won’t fade.
With climate vulnerability at its peak,
Jharkhand’s future looks uncertain, so to speak,
Dependence on coal, a staggering rate,
93.8% of power, a risky state.
With coal reserves aplenty, but at what cost?
Environmental damage, a growing exhaust,
The road less traveled, a sustainable shift,
To cleaner energy, a powerful gift.
A just transition, a brighter way,
For Jharkhand’s future, come what may,
Breaking free from the conventional norm,
To create a better, greener reform.
The impact will be immense and wide,
On people, planet, and the tide,
Jharkhand can lead the way with pride,
Choosing the road less traveled, a sustainable ride.
So let’s embrace the change, with open hearts,
For a greener future, where hope imparts,
The choice is ours, to make a difference,
With the road less traveled, a sustainable existence.”