In the Changthang region of eastern Ladakh, thousands of pastoralists fear for livelihoods as the government plans to set up a mega solar park in Pang. Locals, mostly Changpa herders, depend on the scarce grazing lands, accessible eight months annually, to rear over 2.5 lakh Pashmina goats, sheep and yaks. Pashmina from these goats fuels a global luxury market and sustains Ladakh’s economy.

The Pang Solar Park, estimated to cost Rs 60,000 crore, is planned to be spread across 48,000 acres of grassland that feed the pashmina goat. While Ladakh’s Chief Secretary has promised grazing land will not be affected, herders remain unconvinced. The park aims to generate up to 9-11 gigawatts (GW) of solar and 4 GW of wind power – nearly five times the capacity of Rajasthan’s Bhadla Park.

Changthang, a cold desert situated 4,500 metres above sea level, has a population (2011 Census) of a little more than 13,000, the majority of whom are Changpas. The region includes areas such as Samad-Rokchan, Kharnak, Debring and Pang. It is also home to the endangered snow leopard, the vulnerable Urial sheep and black necked crane. Interestingly, the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary, spread over approximately 1,600 square kilometres, overlaps almost entirely with traditional Changpa grazing lands.

According to a Down To Earth report, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) has already been signed between the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) for the transfer of 48,000 acres to the former. SECI will reportedly pay five paise per unit to the LAHDC after power generation, and 300 acres have already been transferred to Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) in November 2024 for setting up power evacuation infrastructure in Pang. The work on installing the transmission line that will carry the power generated has already started. The deadline for the transmission project is 2029-30.

In August 2025, Ladakh’s Chief Secretary said that the region receives direct sun rays nearly 310-320 days a year, which allows for maximum power generation. "To harness this energy, we've consulted with experts to install solar panels that allows for grazing to continue underneath so that herders' livelihoods are not affected," he said. He added that two hectares of land in Pang has been acquired for testing the feasibility, with one hectare being used to install 500 kWp solar plant and other for controlled observation. A group of agricultural scientists are also tasked to measure and compare the moisture content in both the areas to scientifically prove that conditions under the panel are more suitable for grass growth and vegetation.

The 500 kWp solar plant, constructed at a cost of Rs 4.93 crore, was completed in three months to showcase to local residents—especially nomadic communities—that their cattle can safely graze within and around the solar plant site without any adverse impact. During his visit on 15 December 2025, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, was informed that the solar photovoltaic panels have been installed with a ground clearance of 1200 mm, leaving ample space for grass to grow and animals to feed underneath.

Nomadic Changpa herders say that they still fear losing their only source of livelihood, given that they don't possess any written guarantees on grazing rights and no compensation has been offered to them for possible displacement. "Once the solar park is here, the land will be gone. I don’t know where we’ll take our herds – or what happens to us after that," Thargies, a nomadic herder, told Down To Earth. He added that no paperwork or dialogue was held. "They came, mapped the land and left. We told them we don’t agree."

These are common lands that are technically governed by the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC). Under the law, the local council must agree to hand that land over to the government. Since the council has already agreed to the project, the community seems to be divided as some (such as in Kharnak) have already agreed to give up their pastures. Others are waiting for a meeting with the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) and others before deciding. Locals say the process behind the renewable energy land deal has not been transparent. "Some are being offered jobs or infrastructure. Others are told their goats can continue grazing, but it’s all verbal. There’s no paper, no law backing it. How do you trust that?"

"No one knows how this land was allotted and on what terms and conditions," said Sonam Wangchuk, Ladakh’s most prominent climate activist. Wangchuk alleged that if the LAHDC isn’t disclosing how it handed over thousands of acres, it may have broken the law.

"If Ladakh can supply solar power to the rest of India, it’s great news. But not by wiping out a traditional way of life that has survived for thousands of years," Wangchuk added.

(This conflict has been filed by researchers Neelakshi Joshi, Ashish Kothari, Deachen Angmo.)