By Ritesh(R) Chugh and Ripan(R) Sethi

From an Indian perspective, Adani’s coal mine proposition in Queensland’s Galilee Basin might sound like a win but Australian proponents are tugging against it as an environmental disaster. There are many opinions highlighting the harms and benefits of this venture that aims to build the world’s biggest coal mine, so RR have compiled some points to help you evaluate the current situation.

The proposed Carmichael coal mine project’s key selling point is that it will bring much needed jobs in the area, claimed to be over 10,000 by Adani’s team which was rejected but reduced to 1500 by an independent consulting firm. The Queensland Government is estimating the project to add $2.97 billion to its economy each year for the next 60 years. Despite the lucrative figures, a large number of nature-loving Australian population is of the opinion that it is likely to be one of the major environmental disasters in recent times. In addition to local residents and far-flung general populace being concerned about the mine’s impact on the iconic Great Barrier Reef, our Pacific Islander neighbours have also raised their concern. Thousands of residents in Samoan, PNG region face the risk of eradication due to rising sea level and the Carmichael project will certainly not be helping the situation.

The backlash from the concerned public seems to have also contributed to an ongoing challenge for the Adani team to secure the required $1b funding for the project, which probably got worse when the project was linked to an investigation in India currently underway over an alleged scam designed to shift money overseas by Gautam Adani’s elder brother, Vinod Adani.

While the Indian in us may be thinking that we should support this project so that our compatriots back home get access to cheap electricity, a key element towards any country’s economic growth, our Oz mindset could be focused on the environmental impact our ‘Karam Bhoomi’ can be blamed to trigger. If this project goes ahead, potentially leading to other mines in the area, the region has the potential of generating 1.3 times Australia’s current CO2 emissions.

Regardless of all the negativity that surrounds this divisive project, the Adani group still seems to be upbeat about it and is coming across as confident in all that has been promised. However, it is ultimately a choice between economy and the environment. As always, we will let you decide!