Adani Group built the world's largest solar power plant (as of 2016) in Kamuthi, located in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu, in record eight months. The project, however, initially met with opposition from locals citing loss of livelihood due to loss of agriculture land.
Several farmers in Sengapadai, Pudukottai, M Karisalkulam, Mudhal Naadu and Kamudhi villages in Kamuthi taluk say they gave up their fertile lands for the project. A majority of these deals were signed by villagers accompanied by mediators for 'Kamuthi Solar Power Company Limited'. Officials, however, say that only barren lands were being acquired from individuals for the project. Revenue officials said that as of July 2015, 300 acres of land had been acquired in Kamuthi block by the Adani Green Energy (Tamil Nadu) Limited, but they were tightlipped about the price at which it was acquired.
Meanwhile, District Collector K Nandhakumar said that the company acquired the land on lease and ownership basis from private owners so the district administration had nothing to do with it.
Farmers protested against the Adani Group in 2018 alleging that the company failed to fulfil its promise to provide jobs to women who had given them their lands for the solar plant.
They added the fencing off of nearly 4,000 acres by the Adani Group blocked access to grazing grounds, further impacting the economic sustenance of the affected communities. They also said that their access to government lands, including kanmais, ooranis (drinking water ponds), streams and water courses, was also blocked.
The construction and operation of the solar plant also raised concerns about the depletion of the groundwater table, compounding the environmental and agricultural challenges faced by the local population. Kamuthi villagers raised a big noise about plunging water levels due to Adani’s operations. Adani was extracting 2,00,000 litres of water daily from a village near the Gundar river.
Following a high-decibel public protest, the company was ordered to stop extracting groundwater from that location. Now, the company desalinates groundwater from its site using reverse osmosis (RO) plants. Experts say that RO plants are energy guzzlers and polluting.
During protests, several allegations related to illegal acquisition of land and violation of acquisition procedures were levelled against the Adani Group. A government order by the Revenue and Land Department stated that the company in its application had mentioned about presence of wetlands in the land to be acquired and the then District Collector of Ramanathapuram had give the 'No Objection Certificate' for the same.
The conflict ended after farmers reached a resolution with the company regarding compensation for affected landowners, and a commitment to follow more transparent and ethical practices in the future.
The Kamuthi case sheds light on the importance of ethical land acquisition practices in large-scale industrial projects and underscores the need for robust regulatory oversight to safeguard the rights and interests of local communities.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand to cancel the project
Opposition against environmental degradation
Demand for employment
Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common and Private
Non-Forest (Grazing Land)
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Project completed
Original Project Deadline
2016
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Agricultural land, Grazing, Water bodies
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
No
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
4550
Type of investment:
Cost of Project
Year of Estimation
2016
Has the Conflict Ended?
Yes
When did it end?
2019
Why did the conflict end?
Community forced to give up their demand by the opposing party
The conflict ended after farmers reached a resolution with the company regarding compensation for affected landowners, and a commitment from the Adani Group to follow more transparent and ethical practices in the future.
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
Yes
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Controversial land acquisition by the government
Violation of environmental laws
Non-consultation with stakeholders
Legal Status:
Out of Court
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
No
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
No
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
District Administration, Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation (TANTRANSCO)
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
No
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Chief Security Officer, Adani Green Energy Private Limited: "The plant functions in five parts and the main plant is 2500 acres and there are other plants in the neighbouring villages totalling upto 4000 acres." Gate Security, Kamuthi Renewable Energy Limited (KREL): "The Adani Group acquired land through a third party attorney in 2014 itself without allowing public to know that lands are being acquired for Adani Group."
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Yes
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
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Viswanathan is a creative individual whose interests lie at the intersection of architecture, urban development, and design. His research interests include issues of urban development, housing, water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH), and land. As an upcoming architect and urban development practitioner, he thrives on crafting visionary spaces and shaping vibrant communities. His diverse portfolio showcases his expertise across various disciplines, making him a true Renaissance professional. With him, the worlds of architecture, design, and social entrepreneurship unite, forming an individual dedicated to shaping the future and inspiring others to think beyond the ordinary.
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