Green Turns Greedy: In Maharashtra’s Jalgaon, over 130 SC, tribal and minority families allege they were duped into selling ancestral farmland to solar companies. The cost? Lost land, broken laws, and no justice.

The families—spread across 5 villages—say brokers tricked them into land deals under false pretences. Some were told their land was government property. Others were promised jobs and crores but received far less—or nothing.

Land records and satellite imagery also show that the solar plants were constructed inside the Gautala Autramghat Wildlife Sanctuary & its Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ)—without any approvals. That’s a direct violation of the Wild Life Protection Act.

Many families did not even know they had "sold" their land. One case involved forged documents using the identities of long-deceased relatives. In others, the promised price was slashed by over 80%. Over 150 sale deeds were signed, with half below govt valuation.

Example: Harsingh Rathod was promised ₹12L per acre, but his sale deed said ₹4.25L. He received only ₹3L. Parshuram Chauhan was promised he could keep his house—it was demolished by a JCB weeks later.

In one shocking case, Nimbabai Savde lost her husband to stress after he was deceived into signing away their land. A broker told him it was for dividing the family property. In reality, their farmland had been sold. “Now we are struggling to survive,” she says.

Neither JBM Solar nor Avaada, the companies involved, sought clearances from the wildlife board or the state. They began construction in the ESZ before any permission was granted—which was eventually given in a legally questionable manner.

When farmers protested, they were arrested. In 2022, 40 farmers were jailed for a month after resisting construction. “We are old now,” said 75-year-old Shantibai. “We fought for years but got jail, not justice.”

The Bombay High Court has since flagged irregularities, confirming that the solar projects had no wildlife, forest, or environmental clearance.

Amid the worldwide push for renewable energy, the allegations made by Jalgaon's farmers raise critical questions about land rights, highlighting the exploitation of vulnerable communities and disregard for environmental regulations. Read the full report.