Скачать или смотреть How is India's largest Solar Energy project threatening Ladakh Nomads and Pashmina wool

From Grazing Lands to Solar Fields: The Price of Renewable Power in Ladakh

The Mega Solar Park project in Eastern Ladakh threatens to erase centuries-old traditions and livelihoods. This massive renewable energy initiative will take over scarce grazing lands that sustain the world’s finest Pashmina goats, pushing the region’s unique culture and heritage towards extinction.

While the government has managed to secure the GI tag for Pashmina wool, this ambitious project is impacting the eight months grazing area of the herders in Skyang-Chu-Thang region of Eastern Ladakh which include areas like Samad-Rokchan, Kharnak, Debring and Pang. Around 250 families in Samad-Rokchan and 50 families in Khanak are going to have an impact on their livelihood.

The MoU has already been signed between the SECI and LAHDC-Ladakh Autonomous Hill Council in which 48,000 acres are to be transferred to SECI in which SECI would pay 5 paisa per unit to the LAHDC after generation of power and 300 acres has already been transferred to PGCIL for setting up of evacuation of energy infrastructure in Pang.

Herders say that they have not been shown any official document of land transfer and insist such decisions cannot be taken behind the doors.

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0:00 Solar Park plans in Ladakh
1:39 Herders and Pashmina of Skyang-Chu-Thang
3:16 Grazing lands to Solar park
4:33 Demands of Ladakhi people
8:06 Power transmission
8:33 Herders are hurt

Down to Earth is Science and Environment fortnightly published by the Society for Environmental Communication, New Delhi. We publish news and analysis on issues that deal with sustainable development, which we scan through the eyes of science and environment.