Question

why do you think solar energy has a bright future in india ?

describe the distribution of coal in india.

Answer 1

Solar energy has a bright future in India because –
1. India being a tropical country receives sunlight in abundance throughout the year.
2. Solar plants can be easily established in rural and remote areas.
3. It will minimize the dependence of rural households on firewood and dunk cakes which in turn will contribute to environmental conservation and adequate supply of manure in agriculture.

In India coal deposits are found mainly of two geological ages –

1. Gondwana coal deposits, which are about 200 million years old. The major coal deposits in India are Gondwana coal which are metallurgical coal and are located in Damodar Valley (West Bengal, Jharkhand). These constitute mainly Jharia, Dhanbad, Ranigunj, and Bokaro coal fields. Besides, the Godavari, Mahanadi, Son and Wardha valley also contain coal deposits.

2. Tertiary coal deposits which are around 55 million years old. Tertiary coal deposits are found in the North-Eastern states of Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.

Answer 2

Solution:-

(i) India has the fifth largest coal reserves in the world, and is the fourth largest producer of coal in the world:

• The major resources of metallurgical coal belong to the Gondwana age and are located mainly in the northeastern part of the peninsula.

• Rich reserves of coal are found in the Damodar Valley region in the states of West Bengal and Jharkhand. Raniganj in WestBengal and Jharia and Bokaro in Jharkhand are important coalfields. One third of the total production comes from here.

• Coal is also found in the Godavari, Mahanadi, Son and Wardha valleys. Korba in Chhattisgarh, Singrauli and Penah-kanhan valley in Madhya Pradesh, Talcher in Orissa, Kamptee and Chandrapur in Maharashtra and Singareni of Andhra Pradesh are important coal mines.

• Tertiary coal occurs in the northeastern states of Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.

• Principal lignite reserves are found in Neyveli in Tamil Nadu. Due to high demand and poor average quality, India is forced to import high quality coal to meet the requirements of steel plants.

• Dhanbad city is the largest coal producing city.

(ii) Solar energy has a bright future in India because –

• India being a tropical country receives sunlight in abundance throughout the year.

• Solar plants can be easily established in rural and remote areas.

• Photovoltaic technology converts sunlight directly into electricity.

• It will minimize the dependence of rural households on firewood and dunk cakes which in turn will contribute to environmental conservation and adequate supply of manure in agriculture.