Rajasthan Solar Budget Fuels Khejri Tree Conservation Clash

JAIPUR (Azat TV) – Rajasthan’s Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Diya Kumari’s recent announcement of a significant budget allocation for solar projects has reignited a simmering conflict between ambitious renewable energy development and vital environmental conservation, particularly concerning the protected khejri tree. The February 11, 2026, budget allocated Rs 2,900 crore (approximately $350 million USD) for solar initiatives in Bikaner and Jaisalmer districts, targeting the development of 4,830 megawatts (MW) of solar parks. This financial boost, while aimed at solidifying Rajasthan’s position as a solar energy hub, directly clashes with ongoing community protests against the widespread felling of khejri trees, which are ecologically and culturally significant to the region.

Rajasthan’s Solar Push and Khejri Tree Protests

The state of Rajasthan has been aggressively promoting solar energy development, transforming districts like Bikaner into major production hubs. However, this push has come at a considerable environmental cost. Local communities, particularly farmers and the Bishnoi community, have been engaged in prolonged protests against the clearing of land for solar plants, which often involves the destruction of khejri trees (Prosopis cineraria). These trees are crucial to the Thar desert ecosystem, providing fodder, fuel, and shade, and are deeply intertwined with the identity and livelihood of the local populace, as reported by Down To Earth (DTE).

Farmer Kishna Ram Godara’s Enduring Stand for Khejri

At the forefront of this environmental resistance is Kishna Ram Godara, a farmer from Naukha Daiya village in Bikaner district. As of February 15, 2026, Godara had spent 568 days in a continuous sit-in protest in his field, having started on July 18, 2024. His primary goal is to halt the felling of khejri trees for solar plants, specifically targeting ACME Solar’s 300 MW project in his village. Godara, who considers the khejri tree essential to his family’s and village’s existence, has three core demands: a complete ban on khejri tree felling, strict enforcement of state tree protection laws, and the establishment of norms for solar plant installation that do not require tree removal. He claims ACME Solar attempted to coerce and threaten him, even filing lawsuits, but he has remained steadfast.

Community Mobilization and Conservation Efforts

Godara’s unwavering resolve inspired broader community action. In July 2025, members of the Bishnoi community in Bikaner launched their own indefinite sit-in at the collectorate. This collective effort yielded a partial victory, resulting in a directive for ACME Solar to complete its project in Naukha Daiya without further felling of the remaining khejri trees. However, the issue extends beyond this single village. Residents of Bhanipura village, also in Bikaner, estimate that approximately 10,000 khejri trees have been cut since 2024 for a solar plant in their area, prompting similar protests four months prior to the budget announcement, according to DTE.

Future of Solar Development Amid Environmental Concerns

The latest budget allocation by Deputy Chief Minister Kumari outlines plans for solar parks in Mehrasar-Dinsar-Barala and Sawaisar-Karanisar Bhatian-Bikoloi areas in Bikaner, and Raghwa-Sehua area in Jaisalmer. These extensive projects, slated for joint venture development, signal an intensified push for solar capacity. Following Kumari’s announcement, DTE reporters visited seven villages in Bikaner, including those mentioned in the budget speech, to assess the on-the-ground implications. The report suggests that while the government prioritizes renewable energy, the methods of land acquisition and development continue to pose a significant threat to the region’s delicate ecology and the livelihoods of its traditional inhabitants, fueling a renewed phase of environmental advocacy.

The substantial new investment in Rajasthan’s solar sector underscores the persistent dilemma of balancing clean energy targets with local environmental and social costs, particularly as it intensifies the long-standing struggle to preserve the ecologically vital khejri tree.