India’s plans to scale up fracking operations with out sturdy rules may spell catastrophe for the nation’s finely balanced water safety, based on analysis from the College of Surrey.
India is positioning shale gasoline as a key transitional vitality supply and has introduced 56 fracking tasks throughout six states. Regardless of the promise of vitality independence, the brand new research seems to boost alarm bells concerning the nation’s preparedness to deal with the distinctive water dangers posed by fracking.
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, includes injecting high-pressure fluid into shale rock to launch pure gasoline. This course of has been controversial worldwide resulting from its important environmental impacts, significantly on water sources. The research factors out that India’s regulatory framework for fracking is at the moment based mostly on guidelines designed for standard drilling processes, which don’t adequately tackle the distinct challenges fracking presents.
Shashi Kant Yadav, lead writer from the College’s Faculty of Regulation, which has a specialism in environmental regulatory points, and his co-authors recognized 4 key fracking-specific water (FSW) points that want pressing consideration:
- Water contamination: Fracking fluids and the discharge of methane can contaminate groundwater provides.
- Water utilization: Fracking operations eat huge quantities of water, which may deplete native water provides.
- Wastewater administration: Dealing with and disposing of the contaminated water that returns to the floor is a fancy problem.
- Water-induced seismicity: The injection of fracking fluids can set off earthquakes.
Drawing parallels with the US shale business, the research maps these 4 FSW points to the regulatory responses noticed within the US. It highlights the gaps and inefficiencies within the Indian context, emphasising the necessity for a extra stringent regulatory method.
Within the US, the Environmental Safety Company (EPA) and numerous state-level our bodies have put contrasting rules in place – a number of the US states mitigate the environmental affect of fracking, whereas others encourage its business scaling. Mitigation measures embody monitoring of water high quality, necessary reporting of chemical substances utilized in fracking fluids, and sturdy waste administration protocols.
Researchers argue that India ought to undertake related, if no more rigorous, measures to guard its extra under-strain water sources.
Shashi Kant Yadav, lead writer of the research from the College of Surrey, mentioned:
“Our analysis concludes with a stark warning: India should reassess the business scaling of fracking operations and conduct a radical scientific inquiry into the potential impacts on water sources is carried out. Moreover, our research requires a re-examination of each federal and state-level rules to make sure complete protection of all FSW points.
“This study is a wake-up call for policymakers. The potential for a significant environmental crisis is real and imminent if proactive steps are not taken. As India marches towards its energy goals, the balance between energy security and water security must not be overlooked.”
