300 MW solar plant sealed in Khandwa by district administration
The operation was carried out late Friday night by a special inquiry team constituted by Collector Rishav Gupta. The investigation was launched after a complaint was filed with the Indore Divisional Commissioner. The probe uncovered that the solar plant was set up on lands of tribal farmers in Dharampuri, Kanwani, Bhavsinghpura, Badgaon Mali, and Sivna, villages without adhering to due legal procedures.
"The company commenced production after establishing the plant on tribal farmers' land without obtaining proper legal permissions.
This is completely improper and illegal," said Gupta.
The investigation further revealed that in some instances, land belonging to Scheduled Caste individuals was acquired under duress. Moreover, land belonging to many Scheduled Tribe farmers was transferred without adequate compensation. Disturbingly, there were also allegations where farmers' illiteracy was exploited, and money was withdrawn from their bank accounts.
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According to the Collector, the company also managed to get land diverted for industrial use based solely on possession, even in cases where mutation in the land records (khasra) did not take place. This constitutes a direct violation of the Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code.
The Masaya Solar Energy Company was also found to have illegally occupied approximately 27.64 hectares (around 60 acres) of land, including that categorised as 'charanoi' (grazing land), 'nala' (drainage), roads, and small forest areas, taken over without any lease or proper acquisition.
Collector Gupta has directed that the solar plant's operations would remain suspended until the lease or formal allocation process is duly completed. The machinery present at the plant has been sealed as part of the action.
The investigation also brought to light allegations of collusion involving former and some administrative officials in facilitating these illegal activities. There are complaints accusing these officials of accepting bribes amounting to lakhs of rupees.
"A high-level investigation will also be conducted against the officers under whose supervision these illegal encroachments occurred. Their assets will also be investigated," the Collector said.
The plant's construction began in 2020, and electricity production reportedly commenced in 2022 without the necessary No Objection Certificates (NOCs). Around 35 tribal farmers from five villages in the region had their land acquired by the company, and their cases reached the revenue department. Notably, there were no protests against these acquisitions until now.
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