Rajasthan Amends Land Rules to Accelerate Mega Renewable Energy Projects.

New policy eases land allocation for large renewable energy and green hydrogen projects while raising environmental concerns.

The Rajasthan Revenue Department has amended the Rajasthan Land Revenue (Allotment of Land for Setting up of Power Plant based on Renewable Energy Sources) Rules, 2007, enabling faster land allocation for renewable energy parks, green hydrogen projects, and power projects of 1,000 MW and above. The move follows the state Cabinet's approval of the "set apart" policy, which aims to earmark nearly five lakh acres of government land for renewable energy development. Under the revised rules, developers can receive land allotments even without existing CTU or STU transmission connectivity, encouraging large-scale investments. The amendments also introduce a separate land allocation mechanism for energy storage systems, including standalone and integrated projects, while allowing up to nine years for project completion. However, environmental groups and local communities have expressed concerns over the possible diversion of Orans, pastureland, and tree cover, urging the government to balance renewable energy expansion with ecological conservation.