One-third of households in districts of TG depend on coal

The Swaniti Initiative, a Delhi-based public policy think tank, launched its comprehensive report titled ‘Just Transition Pathways for a Net-zero Telangana: Case Studies from the Coal-dependent districts of Peddapalli and Mancherial’ at an event held at the Taj Vivanta here on Wednesday.
The report highlights Telangana’s coal dependency and outlines strategies for achieving economic diversification and sustainable development in its coal-dependent districts. It focuses on actionable pathways for transitioning to renewable energy, establishing new industries and supporting the local communities of Peddapalli and Mancherial districts.
The report was launched by TG Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, along with its authors Deeksha Pande, Rishi Kishore, Sriram Kolasani and Sai Chandra.
The report’s findings are:
One-third of households in coal districts depend on coal for their livelihood, with most jobs in coal transport.
24% of households in Mancherial have medical insurance cards from the NTPC or SCCL.
One in 10 households rely on SCCL water connections in both Mancherial and Peddapalli.
The solar sector and non-coal-based MSMEs emerged as top sectors for diversification.
Recommendations
The report made several recommendations to the state government:
Establish a Just Transition Taskforce to explore economic diversification options.
Strengthen coordination between state and district admins for effective net-zero planning.
Launch awareness programmes to promote a just transition at both the state and district levels.
Vision for Change
Speaking ahead of the event, Sandeep Pai, the Director of Swaniti Initiative and co-author of the report, stated, “This report provides a roadmap for Telangana’s transition to a net-zero economy. We hope to engage policymakers, industry leaders and the community to drive meaningful change.”
Swaniti Initiative is a non-profit organisation delivering development solutions. Its Global Climate and Development Institute (GCDI) spearheads initiatives addressing climate change while ensuring equitable economic growth.