Joint Survey Targets Chikkaballapur Land Parcels
The Karnataka government is advancing plans to utilize deemed forest land for utility-scale solar power projects under the Prime Minister's Kusum-C scheme. District administration officials, working alongside representatives from the state revenue and forest departments, have initiated a joint survey to identify suitable land parcels, beginning in Chikkaballapur and surrounding areas.
According to Chikkaballapur Deputy Commissioner G. Prabhu, there are 20,000 hectares of deemed forest land located in and around the district. Of this total area, the state government aims to utilize 11,000 to 12,000 hectares specifically for solar power generation. Deputy Commissioner G. Prabhu stated that the initiative is designed to help farmers in the district by expanding renewable energy generation infrastructure.
The PM-KUSUM C project is an initiative administered by the Government of India to solarize existing grid-connected agricultural water pumps. The program intends to provide farmers with reliable daytime electricity while reducing overall power disruptions on agricultural feeders. Karnataka has established a state target to add 19.2 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.
Ministerial Opposition and Environmental Concerns
The state government's land utilization plan has encountered direct resistance from within the cabinet. Karnataka Revenue Minister Krishna Byregowda publicly opposed the proposal, stating that the initiative is highly inappropriate and confirming that the administration has advised district authorities not to proceed with the conversion plans due to expected tree felling.
Environmental advocates have raised additional alarms regarding the ecological footprint of the proposed installations. Green activists claim that up to 5 lakh trees, including valuable sandalwood and teakwood specimens, could be affected in Tumakuru district alone for a PM Kusum solar power project. In contrast, government estimates place the affected count at approximately 1 lakh trees, consisting primarily of acacia and eucalyptus shrubs.
District administrators conducting the surveys maintain that all site selections will adhere strictly to Supreme Court guidelines regarding land classification and prescribed green cover limits. However, detailed environmental impact assessment reports for the specific parcels under consideration have not been made publicly available.
Historical Context of Karnataka Solar Infrastructure
The current push for solar land utilization builds upon Karnataka's extensive history of large-scale renewable energy development. The state previously constructed the Pavagada Solar Park, also known as Shakti Sthala, located in Tumakuru district. Recognized as India's second-biggest solar power plant, the facility operates with a generation capacity of 2,050 MW. Additionally, the state government has implemented targeted solar initiatives, such as deploying solar-powered wells to hydrate wildlife in Bandipur National Park since 2016.
Downstream Stakes for Farmers and Ecosystems
For agricultural communities across Karnataka, the PM-KUSUM C scheme represents a critical operational shift aimed at securing uninterrupted power supplies for irrigation pumps, thereby lowering dependence on conventional electricity grids. At the same time, local communities and environmental organizations face ongoing concerns regarding habitat fragmentation and potential deforestation, highlighting the tension between aggressive renewable energy targets and ecological preservation in designated green zones.
