Jaipur: Rajasthan has amended its land allotment rules to facilitate mega renewable-energy projects, renewable-energy parks and green-hydrogen projects of 1,000 MW and above. The move follows the state Cabinet’s decision to earmark around five lakh acres of government land for renewable-energy development. While the policy is aimed at accelerating investment and grid-scale clean-energy capacity, concerns are emerging over private landowners’ interests, pasturelands, Orans and other community resources.
Land Allocation Rules Eased for Mega Projects
The Revenue Department on Thursday notified amendments to the Rajasthan Land Revenue (Allotment of Land for setting up of Power Plant based on Renewable Energy Sources) Rules, 2007.
Under the amended framework, projects of 1,000 MW and above can receive government land even if developers do not yet have connectivity from the Central Transmission Utility or State Transmission Utility.
The Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation (RREC) will process applications and recommend eligible allotments to the Revenue Department. Developers will have to pay applicable land-security charges under prevailing renewable-energy policies.
The provision is expected to help projects announced under the Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit, particularly those whose developers have signed MoUs but are awaiting power-purchase agreements or grid connectivity.
Phased Land Utilisation
The amended rules introduce a phased mechanism for taking possession and utilising allotted land.
After an RREC recommendation and a report from the concerned Collector, developers can obtain a Right to Use order after depositing 10% of the total premium.
They must then secure at least:
One-third of the allotted land within three years
Two-thirds within six years
The entire allotted land within nine years
The balance premium will be payable according to the applicable provisions.
Land Norms for Renewable Projects
The amended rules prescribe different land requirements depending on the technology. Wind projects and most solar technologies will generally be eligible for two hectares per MW.
Solar thermal projects will receive three hectares per MW at a 21% plant load factor, with additional land allowed for each one-percentage-point increase in PLF.
For wind-solar hybrid projects, the maximum ceiling has been fixed at 2.5 hectares per MW of declared hybrid capacity.
A significant environmental provision requires 10% of the total allotted land to be reserved for tree plantation.
Concerns Over Private Land and Community Resources
The government’s decision has nevertheless generated apprehension among private landowners in western Rajasthan’s renewable-energy belt.
Owners of barren and semi-barren land who previously negotiated directly with renewable-energy companies fear that increased availability of government land could reduce their bargaining power.
Environmental and community concerns have also been raised over the possible diversion of pastureland and Orans, as well as the protection of trees and other community resources.
Sumer Singh Bhatti, who led protests earlier this year against land diversification for solar projects, said communities supported development but wanted stronger safeguards.
“We do not want to stall development works but the government should ensure that Orans are protected and the pasture land should not be allotted for solar projects. Also, there should not be cutting of trees,” Bhatti said.
Storage Projects Included
The amended framework also establishes a mechanism for allotting land to energy-storage systems, including standalone storage and renewable-energy-integrated projects.
For pumped-storage hydro projects, RREC can recommend land only after the Forest Department accepts non-forest land for compensatory afforestation or Stage-I forest clearance has been obtained.
Nine-Year Maximum Timeline
The government has also introduced flexibility in project timelines. Land must be utilised within the prescribed period linked to the Scheduled Commercial Operation Date or firm connectivity date.
However, the overall maximum timeline is capped at nine years from the issuance of the Right to Use order. Extensions may be granted on a case-by-case basis for valid reasons, including force majeure events and connectivity delays.
Balancing Investment With Conservation
Rajasthan’s massive land-allocation push marks a significant step in the state’s ambition to become a major renewable-energy hub. The availability of large government land parcels could accelerate solar, wind, hybrid, green-hydrogen and energy-storage projects while reducing delays associated with land acquisition.
But the scale of the initiative will also test the government’s ability to balance investment commitments with the rights of private landowners and the protection of Orans, pasturelands, trees and community resources.
The coming years are likely to determine whether Rajasthan can expand its clean-energy infrastructure while ensuring that its renewable-energy transition remains environmentally sustainable and socially acceptable.
