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In Rajasthan's Bikaner district, a conflict has emerged between solar energy companies and local farmers over the felling of ancient Khejri trees, vital to the desert ecosystem.
Despite government intervention, protests continue as activists demand stricter tree protection laws, highlighting the tension between green energy development and environmental preservation.
On a cold morning in January 2024, Krishnaram Godara, a farmer of Nokha Daiya village in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district, was feeling restless. In the fields around him, solar energy companies were cutting old Khejri trees and laying solar plates. Khejri trees that are hundreds of years old are easily found in the fields of the western districts of Rajasthan. These are the backbone of the desert ecology. But the companies started cutting these trees indiscriminately, with the intention of occupying maximum land for power generation.
When this felling reached Godara’s village, a deep anxiety arose within him. He met environmental activist Ram Gopal Bishnoi, who was going from village to village to save Khejri trees.
One morning in July, while Godara was working in his field, he heard the sound of petrol-powered hacksaws in the neighbouring fields. He rushed to the spot and found that old Khejri trees were being cut down. He immediately called Bishnoi. In a short while, many farmers of the village and Bishnoi’s friends gathered there. Seeing the increasing throng, the tree cutters ran away.
The villagers had noticed that the companies’ employees had a habit of cutting Khejri trees secretly and then stopping for some time when the felling elicited protests. “Unless the protest continues for 24 hours, there will be no Khejri trees left,” said Bishnoi.
On July 18, 2024, a protest began in the fields of Nokha Daiya. It gradually spread from Bikaner to the whole of western Rajasthan — to districts like Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Nagaur, Barmer, Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh. Bandhs (shutdowns) were called several times in these districts. Soon, the state government had to intervene. In September 2024, the government announced that if any Khejri tree is to be cut, 10 times more trees will have to be planted in its stead.
However, the protesters are not satisfied. Chandra Singh Bhati said, “This is only on paper. Solar plates have been installed at the places where trees have been cut. How will we plant trees there?”
According to Anil Changani, professor of environmental science at Bikaner University, more than 500,000 trees have been cut in Bikaner district alone in the last 14 years. “Before every big solar project, a rigorous environmental audit is necessary, just like for a refinery or airport. But here, trees are being cut down on hundreds of hectares without any inspection,” he noted.
Trees like Khejri, Ker, Kumtia and Rohida are important not only for the environment but also for livelihood, fodder and nutrition. Their elimination harms local animal husbandry, agriculture and biodiversity.
Not only this, these solar plants require fresh water for repeated cleaning, which is a threat to the already water-scarce desert. Chhangani said that in 2014, there were 120 water sources in an area of Bikaner, which reduced to just 15 by 2022.
Wildlife expert Mridul Vaibhav said that these solar projects have caused serious damage to the wildlife of the Thar. Many species like bees, rats, mongoose, Great Indian Bustard, black buck, and desert cat are in danger. Birds like the Great Indian Bustard have died in large numbers after getting trapped in the power lines of solar plants.
On July 18, 2025, just a day after the first anniversary of the protest, 400 Khejri trees were cut down in Lakhusar village of Bikaner. As soon as they received word, the agitating village residents reached the spot, caught the tree fellers and asked who had sent them. This was followed by a call from a police officer that the contractor of the labourers had reached the police station to lodge an FIR of kidnapping against the protesters.
“The administration always supports the companies. Tree cutters are let off after the imposition of a fine of Rs 100 per tree,” said Bishnoi. This is the provision under the old law of 1955. The protesters have demanded that a new, strict tree protection act be promulgated.
Changani said, “I am not against development. But if solar is required, it can be installed in schools, government buildings or by covering 1,700 km-long canals in Rajasthan. This experiment has been successful in Punjab.”
But this is a difficult and expensive route for companies. It is cheaper and easier to buy land from farmers and cut down trees.
Bikaner social worker Kanupriya said, “If we destroy biodiversity, the temperature will increase, there will be food problems and life will become difficult. Planting a tree in the name of a mother is a good thing, but saving the trees planted by our grandmothers is even more important.”
Khejri is not only the state tree of Rajasthan, it is the soul of the desert. Its leaves are fodder for animals and the fruit Sangri is an important part of Rajasthani food. Its shade, wood, roots and leaves, all are connected to the life of the Thar in some way or the other.
Showing the empty land between the solar plates in the fields, Godara emotionally said, “When we cut the Khejri tree, we cut our roots. In 1730, Amrita Devi Bishnoi and 362 other people saved Khejri trees even after getting beheaded. The same spirit is needed today.”
An elderly man sitting on protest in Nokha Daiya said, “Some 363 people had already been martyred for the Khejri tree. Today, we are ready again. We will not let the trees be cut.” The Bishnoi community is at the forefront of this movement, but other farmers and labourers are also standing with them. Khejri conservation and saving wildlife is prominent among the 29 rules of Bishnoi religious guru Jambheshwar ji.
“Governments call themselves religious, but there is no place for religion, tradition and environment in their decisions. In the name of development, only the corporates are developing, not the public,” said Bishnoi. When attempts were made to contact Jindal Group and Acme Solar Company on this issue, they refused to talk.
