Madhya Pradesh
Villages of Badwaar, Barsaita, Barsaita Desh, Itaar and Ramnagar, Gurh Tehsil
,
Rewa
,
Rewa
Published :
Aug 2023
|
Updated :
Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Project fails to create employment for locals
Reported by
Soumya Pandey
Legal Review by
Anmol Gupta
Edited by
Anupa Kujur
200
Households affected
People affected
2018
Year started
1590
Land area affected
200
Households affected
People Affected
2018
Year started
1590
Land area affected
Key Insights
Sector
Power
Reason/Cause of conflict
Renewable Power
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Rural
Ended
Sector
Power
Reason/Cause of conflict
Renewable Power
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Rural
Ended
1
Summary

The [750](http://rumsl.mp.gov.in/solar-project/#:~:text=750 MW Rewa Ultra Mega,Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh.) MW Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Power Plant is touted as one of [largest](http://rumsl.mp.gov.in/solar-project/#:~:text=750 MW Rewa Ultra Mega,Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh.) single site power plants in the world and the only one in India, to have [received](http://rumsl.mp.gov.in/solar-project/#:~:text=750 MW Rewa Ultra Mega,Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh.) funding from the Clean Technology Fund. The plant is also the only one in India to have [received a concessional loan](http://rumsl.mp.gov.in/solar-project/#:~:text=750 MW Rewa Ultra Mega,Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh.) from the World Bank and honoured with the World Bank Group President’s Award for innovation and excellence.

It was set up by the Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Limited, which is a joint venture of Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam Limited and Union Government's Solar Energy Corporation of India.

However, the project has failed to make good on its promise to provide jobs to the locals. Families whose lands were acquired for the project were promised compensation for the land as well as a job for one member from each of these families, but they claim none of them have received a permanent job apart from some odd labour work. 

Villagers and pastoralists of the area also complain that some of them have lost access to their agricultural and grazing land due to the boundary wall constructed around the project site that has elongated the journey to these agricultural lands from 2-3 kilometre to 14-15 kilometre.

During the project planning stage itself, impact assessment studies pointed out that the project would lead to disruption of existing ecologies and food systems in use by communities who use the land for grazing their cattle. Communities claim that the project has reduced their access to their grazing lands.

2
Fact Sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand for employment

Demand for promised compensation

Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources

Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Region Classification

Rural

Type of Land

Common and Private

Forest and Non-Forest

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)

Status of Project

Project completed

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

No

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Agricultural land, Grazing

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

No

Source/Reference

Total investment involved (in Crores):

4500

Type of investment:

Cost of Project

Year of Estimation

Page Number In Investment Document:

Has the Conflict Ended?

No

When did it end?

Why did the conflict end?

4
Additional Information

Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:

Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam, Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI)

PSUs Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?

No

Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached

Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:

Mahindra Group India, Acme Solar, Solenergi

Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?

No

Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:

5
Information on the use of criminal law

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Legal Supporting Documents

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Author
Reported by
Soumya Pandey

Soumya is currently pursuing her Master’s in Development at Azim Premji University, Bengaluru. She graduated in Social Sciences from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Hyderabad, and has previously worked with TSWREIS (Telangana Social Welfare Residential Schools), the INBI Foundation and the MTV Staying Alive Foundation. Her research interests include climate change, natural resource governance, reproductive health and neoliberal healthcare systems.

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Fact sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand for employment

Demand for promised compensation

Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Status of Project

Project completed

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

No

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Agricultural land, Grazing

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

No

Source/Reference

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