Gujarat ke Kachchh district ka Banni grassland, jo ek important ecosystem hai aur Maldhari community ka ghar bhi, ab NTPC Renewable Energy Limited ke proposed solar project se bari khatron ka saamna kar raha hai. Yeh project grassland par lagaya jaana hai, jisse local community ke beech poore protests aur concerns hain. Unhe dar hai ki yeh unki rojigaar par asar daal sakta hai, kyunki Maldhari community pastoralists hai aur generations se isi zameen par apne livestock ko chhara rahi hai.
Proposed solar project 16 gaon tak faila hua hai, jo lagbhag 4,500 acres area cover karta hai, jismein se 1,400 acres Kiro hill aur Ramsar site ke beech mein hain. Conservationists bhi locals ke saath is project ka virodh kar rahe hain, kyunki yeh Chhari Dhand wetland conservation reserve ke liye khatra ban sakta hai. Yeh fragile ecological site indigenous species ko shelter deta hai aur duniya bhar se lakho migratory birds ko bhi aakarshit karta hai. January mein isko Ramsar-protected site ka darja diya gaya, matlab yeh Wetlands of International Importance ki list mein shamil hai. Proposed solar project is reserve se sirf 500 meters door par hai, jisse ecosystem par asar padne ka dar hai.
Maldhari community ne poore zidd se is project ka virodh kiya hai. Merubai Husain Jat, jo 7 bacche ki maa hain aur 50 camel rakhti hain, ne kaha, "Chahae khushi ho ya gam, Banni humare liye sab kuch hai." Community generations se is grassland par jee rahi hai, aur sabse kharab droughts mein bhi apne aur apne herd ko zinda rakhne ke tareeke nikal lete the. Lekin ab proposed solar project ke saath unhe dar hai ki unhe apna herd bechna padega aur kahin aur shift hona padega, ho sakta hai daily wage laborers ban jaayein.
Locals ne site ka re-survey karne ki maang ki hai, aur local BJP MLA Pradyumansinh Jadeja ne bhi unki maang ko support kiya hai. 26 May ko gaon walon ki ek delegation Gandhinagar mein Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel se mili aur apni baat rakhi. CM ne unki plea suni aur unhe apne demands District Collector ko submit karne ko kaha. Lekin despite protests aur concerns, heavy machinery wetlands mein enter kar chuki hai aur project ka kaam shuru ho chuka hai. Locals ka kehna hai ki unke pass roke ke liye koi power nahi hai, aur unhe helplessness ka ehsaas ho raha hai. Project se migratory birds par bhi asar padne ka dar hai, aur Kutch-based wildlife photographer Ashok Chaudhary ne kaha ki solar panels birds ko disorient kar sakte hain, jisse wo crash land kar sakte hain.
Banni grasslands ek unique ecosystem hai jo seasons ke hisaab se badalta hai. Peak summer mein yeh zameen cracked aur bare dikhti hai, lekin monsoon aur winter mein yeh alag hi roop le leti hai—cracked flats water se bhar jaate hain, wetlands bloom hote hain, aur lakho migratory birds aa jaate hain. Locals ka kehna hai ki yeh grassland sirf rojigaar ka source nahi hai, balki unki culture aur tradition ka hissa bhi hai. Proposed solar project se is ecosystem ke khatme ka dar hai aur local community par asar padega.
Maldhari community wetlands ki growing reputation par apni rojigaar banana ki planning kar rahi thi, jaise homestays, car hire, aur guide training. Lekin proposed solar project ke saath yeh sapne bhi dhundhla rahe hain. Community poore determination se is project ke khilaaf lad rahi hai, protests aur demonstrations ke zariye apna virodh zariye zariye zariye zariye zariye zariye zariye zariye zariye zariye. Banni grasslands aur Maldhari community ki rojigaar ka bhavishya abhi uncertain hai, jab tak government aur NTPC Renewable Energy Limited proposed project ko aage badha rahe hain.
