Coal Ash in India: A compendium of disasters, environment and health risks, the study tracks the impact of coal-ash on local communities and the environment.
Over the past 10 years, says the study, coal-ash pollution caused 76 major accidents, a number of 'minor' accidents and a spike in chronic health conditions among the communities living around the thermal power stations.Mint spoke to Shweta Narayan, coordinator of the Chennai-based Healthy Energy Initiative, which conducted the study along with Cuddalore-based NGO Community Environment Monitors.
Coal power, said Narayan, is considered cheap because it doesn’t take into account the environmental and health costs resulting out of pollution.