New Delhi, June 10 -- Chintamani (51) is walking slowly along the road, with a bundle of clothes loaded onto his bicycle. Finally, he reaches his roadside kiosk and sits down, panting. When asked why he was not riding the cycle, he said, "How far can I ride it? I have to get off every two-three minutes because of traffic snarls."

The reason for these snarls is the eight power plants and 11 coal mines located in the Singrauli district of Madhya Pradesh. Huge trucks with 24 to 36 wheels run 24 hours a day and 7 days a week on the road to collect the coal and ash coming out of these plants.

"In such a situation, if you love your life, it is better to get off the road and walk slowly," said Chintamani. One driver dies in road accidents in ...