Jaipur: Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Ltd (RRECL) has withdrawn its earlier decision to reserve land for wind power developers, a move that aims to prevent the forced or distress sale of farmers’ land and to restore fair competition in the sector.In August last year, the corporation approved the “freezing” of land coordinates for 11 wind and hybrid (wind-solar) projects for six months. This effectively granted companies priority rights over land they neither owned nor possessed. The land freezing, executed through RRECL’s approval process, was carried out without the consent of local farmers.An RRECL official admitted that several developers sought such reservations primarily to block high-potential sites and exclude competitors, depriving farmers of the chance to negotiate fair market value for their land. “The freezing provision became a loophole. Companies began using it to monopolise prime sites and stifle competition. Such speculative hoarding discouraged genuine investors, while original landowners remained stuck in legal and administrative limbo,” the official said.In September this year, RRECL reviewed all frozen sites and ordered the cancellation of those showing “no progress or investment” within the stipulated period. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy had earlier written to states, flagging similar practices in Maharashtra and elsewhere, and urged that renewable energy projects be facilitated under a transparent framework ensuring fair compensation and effective dispute resolution.In the review meeting, RRECL decided that no rights would be created in favour of developers, as land transactions were a private matter between companies and landowners. The corporation also resolved to amend its policy to end the practice. Before this change, wind developers would submit project applications to RRECL, which were registered merely for record-keeping purposes.
RRECL revokes rule allowing firms to block sites sans possession of land | Jaipur News
