Green Development and Marginalized Communities in Karnataka (Case Study)

Context:

This article examines the socio-economic and environmental impacts of large-scale development projects in Challakere and Pavagada, Karnataka, highlighting the trade-offs between green initiatives and the livelihoods of marginalized rural communities as of April 1, 2025.

Key Information in Points:

• Development Projects and Land Acquisition:
• • In Challakere, the government acquired 13,000 acres of grasslands to establish Science City, disrupting local access to water and grazing land.
  • Pavagada hosts one of the world’s largest solar parks, built on land previously used by small and marginal farmers.
• Impact on Livelihoods:
• • In Challakere, the loss of grazing land forced villagers to buy expensive fodder, leading to distress sales of sheep and the decline of the local livestock industry.
  • Weaving, a key socio-cultural and economic activity in Challakere, has diminished due to these changes.
  • In Pavagada, farmers lost land used for emergency farming (e.g., growing ragi or chillies) or as collateral for loans, exacerbating their vulnerability.
• Environmental and Social Costs:
• • Bhargavi S. Rao, an educator and researcher, argues that climate action burdens are disproportionately borne by the poor and marginalized in rural India.
  • The article terms this phenomenon "green grabbing," where land is diverted for clean energy or development, displacing farming communities.
• Specific Regional Effects:
• • Challakere’s grasslands, once the largest in Central Karnataka, have been largely lost, with only 3,000 acres protected by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
  • A private foundation, with Forest Department support, is planting saplings on the NGT-protected land in Challakere.
  • Pavagada, a dry and arid region, saw its farmers lose autonomy over land critical for survival during sporadic rains.
• Broader Implications:
• • Similar land diversions are noted in Chamrajnagar, Karnataka, indicating a statewide pattern of displacement for development.
  • Rao emphasized these issues in a talk at the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, calling for equitable climate policies.
• Visual Reference:
• • An aerial image depicts a shepherd near photovoltaic solar panels in Pavagada Solar Park, symbolizing the clash between traditional livelihoods and modern energy projects.

Key Terms:

• Science City: A government project in Challakere aimed at scientific development, occupying 13,000 acres.
• Pavagada Solar Park: One of the world’s largest solar energy installations, built on former agricultural land.
• Green Grabbing: The appropriation of land for environmental projects, often at the expense of local communities.
• National Green Tribunal (NGT): A judicial body in India addressing environmental disputes, protecting 3,000 acres in Challakere.
• Distress Sale: Forced selling of assets (e.g., sheep) due to economic hardship.
• Marginal Farmers: Small-scale farmers with limited landholdings, highly vulnerable to land loss.
• Climate Action Burden: The unequal impact of environmental policies on disadvantaged groups.

Link To The Original Article – https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/green-future-for-whom-revisiting-the-marginalised-lives-of-challakere-and-pavagada/article69399622.ece