Jaipur: As protests against large solar power projects continue to simmer in parts of Rajasthan, the state govt and the private sector are coming together to plant 10 lakh Khejri trees which are sacred to the local communities in the solar hubs like Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Barmer.National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) and Rajasthan Solar Association launched the initiative on Friday, with a target to complete the plantation by 2028 with the help of funds from the private sector.
The associations said that they will geo-tag all the trees and put them on the website to verify the authenticity of the initiative.In fact, while inaugurating the Bharat Solar Expo in Jaipur, Heeralal Nagar said that solar development and environment protection should go hand in hand.While addressing the CEOs of the solar industry, Ajitabh Sharma, additional chief secretary (Energy), said that the govt is keen to support the initiative. “The industry has to come forward, and the department is there to extend all help to ensure that the concerns of the local communities are addressed,” he said on the sidelines of the industry.He said, “Sustainable growth has to be inclusive and include the local communities. As a govt, we are excited to participate and take the initiative to its logical end.”Drawing inspiration from the sacrifice of Amrita Devi Bishnoi, the mission aims to revive Rajasthan’s tradition of community-led ecological stewardship, while integrating native afforestation into renewable energy development.“Measures such as geo-tagged plantations and data-based audit reports are expected to strengthen ESG compliance, improve investor confidence and reduce project risks arising from environmental objections,” said Suman Kumar, vice chairman of NSEFI.According to project documents, the plantation drive is designed to complement solar generation rather than compete with it. While a 1 MW solar plant helps avoid 1,200–1,500 tonnes of carbon emissions annually, Khejri plantations can reduce 2–8 tonnes of carbon dioxide per hectare every year over a 30-year period.Officials and experts say the combined approach could create a net-negative carbon impact while also restoring biodiversity.
