Rajasthan Power Project: HC Cancels Allotment Of Public Utility Land To Adani Group Near Pokhran

Rajasthan High Court ordered the state government to conduct a survey of the land parcels allocated to AREPRL and Essel Surya Urja Company of Rajasthan Ld (ESUCRL) in three villages.

Gautam Adani (Image Source: PTI)

Jaipur: The High Court, in a blow to Adani Renewable Energy Park Rajasthan Ltd (AREPRL), ordered the cancellation of a public utility land allotment of 1,452 bigha near Pokhran in Jaisalmer to the Adani group-owned firm on Tuesday, June 29, 2021.

In 2018, AREPRL was given 6,115 hectares of land in Nedan village, near Pokhran in the Jaisalmer region, to build a power plant.

Justices Sangeet Lodha and Rameshwar Vyas of the Rajasthan High Court's division bench further ordered the state government to conduct a survey of the land parcels allocated to AREPRL and Essel Surya Urja Company of Rajasthan Ld (ESUCRL) in three villages.

It also directed that if any part of these lands is found to be given to public utility, the allocation be cancelled.

The Court issued these orders in response to a petition filed by Barkat Khan and 23 others, who were protesting the state government's allocation of public utility land to solar generating corporations.

The state government must also review the assignment of land bordering the petitioners' properties, the holdings of other khatedar tenants, and the property of public utilities, according to the High Court's ruling. This will be done to ensure that their rights are not infringed upon as a result of ESUCRL and AREPRL receiving land allotments.

The Court ordered that the land for the approach road to the khatedar renters' lands and the dhani of the village's residents be set aside and recorded in the tax records for the purpose.

The Court further stated that the state government must execute the entire exercise in accordance with this decision within six weeks of receiving a certified copy of the order.