Environmentalists Protest Floating Solar Park Plan in Jayakwadi Bird Sanctuary

In a move that has sparked fierce opposition from environmentalists, the National Green Energy Limited (NGEL), a central government body, is planning to construct a floating solar park on a part of the Jayakwadi dam in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, Marathwada, India. The project, which was cleared by the State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) in April and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change's expert advisory committee in September 2025, involves setting up solar panels on 4,091 hectares (12% of the dam area) and cutting 755 trees.

Jayakwadi is the largest earthen dam in Asia and a vital water source in the Marathwada region. Declared a bird sanctuary in 1986, the dam is home to nearly 269 varieties of birds, including migratory species from Central Asia, Europe, and Siberia. Leading the protest against the solar project are environmentalists Dr. Dilip Yardi and Dr. Kishor Pathak, who argue that the panels will reduce sunlight in the water, affecting the production of algae and the overall aquatic ecosystem that sustains the rich bird life.

The environmentalists have raised concerns that the solar panels will disrupt the roosting, nesting, and basking areas of the birds, as well as impact the breeding of fish, a crucial food source for the avian population. They have urged the authorities to consider alternative locations, such as the dam's canals, to minimize the impact on the ecologically sensitive sanctuary.

Despite the opposition, the project is moving forward, with the government assuring that the alignment of power lines will be finalized in consultation with the forest department to ensure the safety of birds. However, the environmentalists remain steadfast in their efforts to protect the Jayakwadi dam's delicate ecological balance.