Bulldozer digging out buried khejdi trees at the site of a solar power plant in Badi Sid. , Photo credit: Special arrangement.
The proposed installation of eight solar power plants in Phalodi tehsil of Jodhpur district has sparked a major clash with Bishnoi activists, who have strongly opposed the felling of Khejdi trees. Solar power companies, which have acquired 25,000 bighas of land on lease in this area, have cut down a large number of Khejdi trees, which are the state tree of Rajasthan.
Although the expansion of solar and wind power projects on vast desert lands in western Rajasthan is set to propel the state to the forefront of power generation, the process of their installation has adversely affected the desert ecosystem. Trees need to be felled to horizontally align the solar panels for a certain length of space.
Two new entrants in the power sector have provided economic benefits to farmers whose land was taken to set up plants with payment of cash compensation. While many villagers have welcomed these projects because of their economic benefits, most others are strongly opposed to this new intervention in semi-arid agricultural areas.
Bishnoi workers who have an emotional attachment to Khejri or Prosopis cineraria Trees, claiming that the solar panels are causing incredible damage to the flora and fauna of the Thar Desert. Thousands of khejri trees have been cut down wherever new solar power plants have been set up. The incident in Badi Sid area of Phalodi tehsil is the latest one in which villagers clashed.
move protest
After solar power firms cut khejdi trees and bury them in the earth to level fields for installing panels, three organizations in the region have joined hands to oppose the move. Activists, who have been raising the issue for more than four months, demonstrated outside the farms for several days last month and brought in bulldozers to chop down the trees.
“The impact of new power interventions by private companies on the desert ecosystem is quite evident. Much of our population depends on wild vegetation which is lost forever for the benefit of power plants,” said Ramniwas Budhnagar, general secretary of the Bishnoi Tiger Force. Has been Hindu, He said that evidence of indiscriminate felling of trees in Badi Sid has been handed over to the district authorities.
Hundreds of Bishnoi youths and people from other communities gathered on the Phalodi-Bikaner road to block the road. Several protesters lay across the road demanding a stop to the destruction of trees and saints led by Guru Bhagwan Das, who represents the Jamba seat of the Bishnoi sect, reached the spot to extend their support.
detained several
However, the police have detained several people, including Sarpanch Kailash Bishnoi, on charges of obstructing the work of solar plants and allied sections. The prolonged agitation eventually resulted in a settlement mediated by the administration, in which solar power firms were directed to protect khejri trees and relocate them if their removal was necessary for setting up plants .
Phalodi’s Additional Collector Hakam Khan said that companies will plant new saplings to make up for the loss of trees being cut and action will be taken under the Forest Act if trees are buried in the ground. As per the agreement, the cases registered against the villagers by the firms would be impartially investigated and security would be provided to the families living in the nearby settlements who had received threats from the interested persons.
Three organizations – Bishnoi Tiger Force, Akhil Bhartiya Bishnoi Mahasabha and Akhil Bhartiya Jeev Raksha Samiti – have called off the agitation since the signing of the agreement. Mr. Budhnagar said that the state government should frame a policy to ensure the co-existence of solar power plants and khejdi trees. “A new alignment of panels would need to be developed that would be easier to deal with,” he said.
The solar power plants are being set up mainly in the western parts of the state in an area of about 3.50 lakh bighas. Trees have been cut at places like Devikot, Rasla, Mullana, Deora, Jhinjhiyali, Myajlar, Ramgarh, Pokhran and other areas of the Thar Desert.
vital role
The Khejri tree plays an important role in maintaining the ecosystem of the Thar region due to its ability to survive the dry season. The tree is used in various ways, such as a source of fodder and firewood, and it helps to maintain the nutritive value of the soil and ensure a good yield of desert crops and edible plants. Its fruit is used to make the popular dish ‘Sangri’.