social and environmental impacts of large-scale solar parks in India

 It is currently estimated that India's net zero goal requires around 50,000 sq.ft. of land. But this diversion have social and environmental impacts.

Such as

• Solar plants reduce the land available for agriculture impacting food security, e.g., Pavagada in Karnataka.
  
• Local pastures are also lost setting up solar plants marginalizing socially vulnerable communities further, e.g., Bhadla in Rajasthan.
• Solar plants affects water percolation and water availability.
• Improper sharing of  benefits could impoverish local communities.

Positive aspects

• It holds the key to hitting net zero ambitions of India
• It also have the ability to reverse the infrastructure induced displacement of people through skill development, job opportunities and revenue sharing.

Modern economics teaches that there are no solutions but trade offs. It is importance weigh the pros and cons carefully and take mitigating efforts.