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Wind power in Jaisalmer

Article · November 2008

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 Wind power
The last seven years have
been unable to institute any

Jaisalmer
change in the area from the
point of view of the local
populace. With few skilled

in
employment opportunities
generated, partisan
contracts awarded, and no
basic amenities
like hospitals, schools
The G‘n’Y team conducted a questionnaire based double season - developed the villagers
are a disenchanted lot.
summer 2006 and winter 2008 - structured study with the objective
to understand the status of wind power station largely built by the
private players Suzlon and Enercon, viz-a-viz local amenities and
socio-economic conditions in and around Jaisalmer city.
Story Sulagna Chattopadhyay, Sanjay Kumar,
Sudipta Mukherjee, Manoj Jha Photo Prasad

3 0  n ov e m b e r - decem ber 20 08  G e o g r a p h y a n d Yo u G e o g r a p h y a n d Yo u  n ov e m b e r - d e c e m b e r 2 0 0 8  31
Cover Story
W
ind power is a large and growing sector
in renewable energy - a sector that
needs to be promoted aggressively so
that energy shortages may be adequately dealt with.
Yet misconceptions about wind farms are growing at
field levels leading to conflict within the area. With
field studies such growing fallacies may be tackled
at the grass root and a feel good situation built so
that the common masses encourage further growth
in view of the benefits accrued to them as well as
the nation. In such a set up Jaisalmer, a flamboyant
barren frontier in a garland of wind farms that dot
the nation was chosen to undertake a qualitative
investigation of the felt needs of the area in terms of
socio-enviro concerns.
The conflict of land, and its purchase from the
natives of the area never arose as the wind farm land
belonged to the government and was leased out for
establishment of the wind farm. Also the land was
barren, thus conflict between agriculturists and the
wind farm operator was also ruled out.
The objectives of the study was broken into three
broad sections. One was to locate positive impacts,
second was to record negative outcomes and third was
to suggest possible remedies for difficult situations.
Of the group of four researchers – three were deputed
for continuous field level research while the fourth
participated in the second season at Jaisalmer, to
validate as an expert. The field researchers maintained
constant touch with each other to embellish and
further define the questionnaire and make it need
based as the study progressed. Opium addiction is
a case in point, which was studied at a later stage as
the problem grew apparent during field work. The
whole process was dynamic and the entire period
of six months was dedicated to research work with
progressive changes coupled with field validations.
32  n ov e m b e r - decem ber 20 08  G e o g r a p h y a n d Yo u
The common people of seven sparse villages in
the vicinity of the wind farm area were accessed,
questioned and their reactions noted. The urban
centre of Jaisalmer being relatively close, exerted
considerable control over the proceedings especially
in opinion making. Thus, what emerged was vibrant
and fascinating report about life around Jaisalmer’s
wind farms. A total of 120 households were assessed
among which more than 81 belonged to the rural
community while the rest were from Jaisalmer city.
Most of the respondents are male as the socio
cultural setup, largely Muslim dominated in the
villages, allows few female respondents. Although
coerced to speak in some destinations, especially
rural, they would do so only in the presence
of an elder female or a male, often the head of
the household. Another reason for few female
respondents was because our questionnaire was
based on locating the household rather than the
individual. In such a scenario, more often than not
it is the male who heads the household and are thus
enumerated as respondents.
The outcome
The results were varied, some astounding
and thought provoking, others lukewarm and
predictable. Although it would be incorrect to build
these responses into a model as they may not be
congruous with problems pertaining to other parts
of the country, yet there are common issues that can
be addressed if wind power companies would be a
little more sympathetic to local concerns and not
limit themselves to making power.
On analysis it was found that the infrastructure
of the area seemed largely unaffected by the
establishment of a stupendous number of wind
farms. As for the roads, arterial connections to
villages is in need of improvement and upgradation
to all weather roads. The Rajasthan Government
maintained highways are in excellent condition
and offer a delightful driving experience. The road
network to and within the wind farms, built relativity
recently by operators Suzlon and Enercon, are also
excellent. Additionally it requires little maintenance
as it is rarely accessed by the native populace, thus
placing no additional pressure upon it.
Despite being relatively close to Jaisalmer,
within a range of 7 to 25 kilometres, the poor in the
villages remain cut off, with little or no government
transport system in place. The last seven years
of wind farm establishment have been unable to
institute any change in the area from the point of
view of transport connectivity. It is indeed surprising
that the frequency and number of locomotives are
so low in the immediate vicinity of a prosperous
township. The increase of owned vehicles, mainly
scooters and jeeps, by the landed class, in the last few
years has reduced the problems of inaccessibility.
On the downside however, the rich inevitably live
in the urban centre and their vehicles are of little
value in emergency situations. As far as hospitals
and schools are concerned the villages depend on
Jaisalmer city. Although most of the villages do have
a primary school, health care is minimalistic. The
existence of wind farms in the last seven years has
hardly brought about any change in the availability
and access to these basic facilities.
Responses related to family income and asset
creation measured over the time period, register an
increase - although asset creation has been found
to be slower in the rural section. Also whether
the marginal creation of durables, primarily
locomotives, can allude to the creation of the wind
farm needs to be explored further.
The electricity generated in
the wind farms are directly
fed into the grid and the
locals accrue no benefit from
the arrangement
The known negative impacts of wind farms have
been placed to the respondents in the questionnaire.
However, apart from a few prominent indices, such
as noise by the moving wind fans and flickering
shadow, there seemed little awareness about the
other impacts. Impacts, such as bird hits and affect
on landscape were relatively new concepts that most,
especially in the rural setup, knew nothing about.
Respondents across the rural and urban setup
seemed to have noted a rise in the criminal offenses,
which perhaps cannot be totally alluded to the
establishment of a wind farm, as increase in crime
may have been measured as a qualitative statement
rather than a quantitative one. The actual measure
of increase in crime needs further exploration.
The noise levels of the wind farms were measured
to be high, well above the threshold of 50 decibels. In
fact some of the wind mills were placed well within
the 400 metres vicinity of the villages where the
sound levels were near 100 decibels, equivalent to an
aeroplane flying overhead. The respondents in the
area complained of the continuous noise, insisting
that during heavy sandstorms they felt that the
machinery would fall off its hinges. The noise levels
acquire further resonance over the rocky and barren
vistas with no vegetation to absorb its drone.
The most startling fact to be noted however,
is the angst of villagers who feel left out in the
developmental process. Contractual projects
granted in association with Suzlon and Enercon,
are not awarded to genuine stakeholders they allege.
The contractual labour as well the personnel are
sourced from outside the region, leading to outrage
among the locals.
Another revelation from the respondents in the
urban area in relation to the effect of wind farms on
the landscape from Jaisalmer Fort was disquieting.
G e o g r a p h y a n d Yo u  n ov e m b e r - d e c e m b e r 2 0 0 8  3 3
Cover Story
 The desert landscape is even today dominated by lack of safe drinking water. Despite the advent
of new age wind farms in the area, supply of potable water remains unsolved. Incorporating pertinent
social issues that plague the immediate vicinity of wind farms in development starved segments such as
Jaisalmer would necessitate a high level of commitment from the wind power companies.
Respondents, especially those associated with the
tourism, such as guides and teachers - who learn
different languages and help tourists after schools
hours - are finding wind farms a hindrance to their
profession. They feel that during sunset and sunrise,
when the undulating terrain and its starkness
juxtaposed against the Jaisalmer Fort projects you
into an age of swords, dusky princesses, sands and
silks, wind mills riding the skyline spoils the show.
Wind farms they claim is a symbol of today and the
package of experience offered to the tourists miss its
mark. They fear that as most of their trade works
through word of mouth, they will begin to loose
their clients for not meeting up with the standards
of a great Indian expedition.
Respondents from Belgium and UK were also
selected to offer their opinion on the allegation
levelled against the wind mills rising pin-like out
of the skyline. Although fairly familiar with wind
farms the foreign visitors felt that heritage sites
such as Jaisalmer should have a stipulated distance
of 5 to 10 kilometres beyond which wind farms
may be located. Also what struck them was the
lack of aesthetics in the deployment of the wind
mills. Haphazardly placed, the wind mills were an
ungainly sight juxtaposed against the barren grace
of the Thar.
The villages around Jaisalmer are electrified, but
as is a reality for most Indian hinterland, the hours of
electricity available pose the greatest problem. Here
too the situation is no different. A large number of
households has little or no electricity, remaining
either unconnected or receiving electricity for
only a few hours in a day. Few household have
graduated no doubt to the next rung of electricity
availability and have better connections in the years
of study coverage. Typically the houses with better
3 4  n ov e m b e r - decem ber 20 08  G e o g r a p h y a n d Yo u
connection were those of the panchayat members,
sarpanch and up sarpanch to be specific. The urban
households also experience energy shortages and
most complained of non functioning television sets.
Using of gensets run on diesel is common in these
households. Solar panels, installed under a State
Government programme, offer lighting options for
the very same households that already benefit from
the above.
Jaisalmer city, however has a better electricity
situation as compared to other small towns in India,
by virtue of being placed in an urban agglomeration.
The electricity generated in the wind farms are
however directly fed into the grid and the locals
accrue no benefit from the arrangement. The
 The Sarpanch of village Bhu, Rahim Khan, outlining the issue of faulty contracts and
respondents are aware that electricity generated
through the wind farms feed the grid and bear a
corruption that incapacitates the growth and income opportunities of the locals.  A view
sense of pride that their unproductive lands are now of the village of Amar sagar, about 2 kilometres from the main town of Jaisalmer, which has
turning the wheels of large industries. to bear the high decibel levels of the noise created by the moving blades of the wind mills, as
The silver lining of the parameters studied has the mills are placed well within the stipulated 400 metres distance. Likely to cause hearing
been the benefit of employment. The job that is loss and stress over a long period, locals remain completely oblivious to the outcome.
most frequently up for grabs is that of a watchman
or guard. Technical jobs are few and often offered
to people from outside the region. The rural
counterparts are grateful that progress has been
initiated and that they are part of it as members of
their household are working or from time to time
receive stop gap jobs from the wind farm activities.
The urban counterparts with more employment
opportunities and more exposure to benefits
accrued are somewhat skeptical about the hand outs
of the wind farm companies.
Although not related to wind power, the problem
of opium is unique to this region. It is freely available
and freely distributed. Even our researchers were
offered opium to ease their fatigue. It is part of their
cultural life or so they claim, without any taboo
G e o g r a p h y a n d Yo u  n ov e m b e r - d e c e m b e r 2 0 0 8  3 5
Cover Story

 The skyline of the Jaisalmer Fort has been marred by the haphazardly placed wind mills.
Perhaps the wind mills could have been located 5 to 10 kilometres away from the Fort ensuring minimal
visibility. If such a scenario was impractical, then perhaps the wind mill placement could have been achieved
aesthetically to allow a semblance of order and tranquillity in accordance with the spirit of the Fort.

 The Jaisalmer Fort is perhaps the only inhabited Fort of recent times. Each quaint
house is today being spruced up with several storeys to house the visitors that arrive
from distant lands. With a heavy Gujarati and Bengali tourist strength within and a
mainly European appeal outside the drains of the Fort is choking up with effluents
beyond its carrying capacity.  Solar panels used for lighting in the more affluent
localities of Hansua village.
3 6  n ov e m b e r - decem ber 20 08  G e o g r a p h y a n d Yo u
whatsoever attached to its consumption. However
drug addiction is a social evil and must be tackled
in that manner. Women when posed this question
typically declined its usage and as with the menace
of alcohol, outlined several problems that arise due
to its constant usage by the men. Besides turning
lazy and delirious, leading to loss in income, the
women claim that they easily fall prey to diseases,
stressing the already fragile economic situation that
they have to fare in.
The way forward
It is fairly well understood that the project outlay of
wind companies is fairly lower than conventional
systems such as hydel or thermal power plants.
Consequently the environmental and social
commitments of wind farms too are lower. However,
our expert team offers a few guidelines that could be
incorporated within the terms of reference during
the sanction of loans by financing companies such
as Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency
Limited (IREDA) under the Ministry of New and
Renewable Energy, Government of India.
Region specific social awareness mission that can
be worked out on monthly or bi monthly basis may
be held at the field level by the wind companies on
diverse topics, from new dryland farming practices
in case of Jaisalmer, to AIDs mitigation/ drug de-
addiction and rain water harvesting techniques.
Experts may be called in to deliver lectures and
follow up mechanism incorporated at the end of
each cycle, depending on the issue.
The companies may also impart technical
training to the young pass outs belonging to the
local area. Also personnel working in a certain rank
may be offered skill training to enable promotion
and mobility to higher levels. During the selection
and recruitment process, additional points must be
accorded to applicants from the region.
Although it has been the policy of wind farms
to feed the grid, a mini transformer on site may
allow a step down of the voltage to allow local usage.
Technical feasibility aside, in an utopian situation,
selling energy to the natives would promote a feel
good factor among them. Awashed with a sense of
pride and achievement they would be willing to
overlook all other problems that they ascribe the
wind farms to.
The wind farm companies, despite their
limitations should attempt to build or embellish the
infrastructure of the area. Since financial viability
would be an issue, the companies could act as a
pressure group to attract the governments' attention
towards the lack roads, schools and hospitals in the
villages of Jaisalmer.
Since a large tracts are covered under
wind farms, in this case government land, an
alternative use should be implemented to offer an
income opportunity for the area. As jathropha is
gaining enormous prominence, attempts should
be made by the wind farm companies to value
add and cultivate the same with the assistance of
the local farmers.
High level awards may be instituted and the
performance of the best wind company in India
may be reviewed keeping the above in mind.
Wind power companies work with the tag of
being environment friendly, so much so that it seems
redundant to suggest any other function that might
supercede their role as carbon credit managers.
Being able to minimise the use of fossil fuels is no
doubt a great service to the nation, but to mar skies
and build roots in land also needs a commitment
towards people who inhabit the same.
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