JAISALMER: Whirring wind turbines in India’s Thar desert supply critical green energy for the world’s most populous nation, but those living in their shadows say it comes at their expense.It illustrates the hard balance faced as India, the third-largest greenhouse gas emitter, scrambles to boost its non-fossil fuel capacity to stem the rising impacts of climate change.”The big companies have come here and built the windmills, but they’re useless to us,” said 65-year-old livestock herder Nena Ram, describing an age-old farming system upended by the giant turbines.The country is suffering increasing devastation from heatwaves, floods and droughts, events that climate scientists say are exacerbated by rising global temperatures.But those from areas used for renewable energy production say their needs have been sacrificed for the greater good.In western Rajasthan state, where most of the Thar desert lies, that includes the loss of grazing lands and damage to sacred groves called “orans”.The desert oases, protected by the community for centuries, collect water critical for their livestock-based economy of camels, cattle and goats.But herders say heavy construction trucks damage the water sources, reducing grasslands and further drying the land.What farmers like Ram contribute to greenhouse gases is very far from the fume-belching giants of India’s coal-hungry heavy industry.He is struggling from a brutal one-two punch.First he was hit by the consequences of climate change. Then he was knocked by mitigation efforts to combat them.’Paying the price’ The deserts around Jaisalmer district in Rajasthan are dotted with hundreds of turbines, one of India’s largest onshore wind farms.Rajasthan is capable of providing five gigawatts (GW) of wind power to the grid, according to government figures.Many turbines are owned by Indian conglomerates, including the Adani Group and Suzlon.The companies say they are supporting India’s national drive to transition to renewable power while supporting communities impacted by the construction.Suzlon says it provides “sustainable development to the villages around its wind farms”, including health, education and livestock support projects.Adani says it is “deeply committed” to the community, supporting schools and clean water programmes.But farmers complain bitterly that the turbines were built on community grazing land.Milk production has also slumped.”The farmers are paying the price,” said Jitendra Kumar, who works in a local health clinic.”Their land was taken away. Windmills occupy the land meant for cattle grazing”.
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