Kutch Ecology at Risk: Villagers Revolt Against Solar Project

On International Day for Biological Diversity, over 500 villagers from 16 Banni villages in Kutch gathered to protest NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd.'s proposed solar project. The residents voiced their opposition to development impacting the region's fragile ecology and their future livelihoods, emphasizing they are not against clean energy.

This demonstration follows the recent designation of Chhari-Dhand as Gujarat's fifth Ramsar site. Villagers allege that heavy machinery has begun operating near the wetland, sparking fears of irreversible ecological damage and accusing authorities of proceeding without meaningful consultation. The land in question is reported to include traditional settlements, gauchar land, farmland, village commons, and burial grounds, impacting an estimated 3,000 cattle and supporting a significant portion of the local milk economy.

Conservationists have also raised alarms, pointing to the project's potential threat to important bird habitats in western India, including Chhari-Dhand, a critical refuge for migratory birds. Concerns include the 'lake effect' from solar panels at night and high-tension transmission lines posing risks to flying birds. The villagers are demanding an administrative re-survey and are prepared for sustained agitation, including legal challenges.