The recent announcement of Modhera as a solar city has brought a windfall for its residents, who have made a fortune by selling land for new developments such as hotels, restaurants, and shopping complexes.
However, the newfound status has had adverse effects on the residents of neighboring Sujanpura, as the construction of the solar plant has led to the takeover of traditional grazing land, forcing cattle herders to spend at least Rs 200-Rs 300 a day to buy hay for their livestock, which was earlier freely available, reports India Spend .
Many have even had to sell their livestock to cope, with some feeling driven to suicide due to losses. The conflict around renewable energy projects is becoming increasingly common in India, as there is no regulatory framework for renewables projects. In the absence of such a framework, there have been a lot of violations of people’s land rights.
Attention to these conflicts becomes important as India has major renewable energy goals, but achieving these goals in a just and sustainable manner is crucial.