Rajasthan Cabinet Revises Land Ceilings, Mandates Tree Plantation for Renewable Projects
· Reported by Energetica India
The Rajasthan Cabinet approved amendments to the Rajasthan Land Revenue Rules, 2007, setting new land allotment ceilings of 2 hectares per MW for solar and wind projects and 2.5 hectares per MW for hybrid projects. Developers must now reserve 10 percent of their allotted project land for tree plantation, following protests over the felling of Khejri trees in western Rajasthan.
What this changes for a title check
For a developer or lender reviewing title on a Rajasthan renewable energy site, the operative record to check is the land allotment order issued under the amended Rajasthan Land Revenue (Allotment of Land for Setting up Power Plants Based on Renewable Energy Sources) Rules, 2007. Any allotment sanctioned after the Cabinet's approval must reflect the new ceilings of 2 hectares per MW for solar and wind and 2.5 hectares per MW for hybrid projects, and a 10 percent carve out for tree plantation should appear as a condition in the allotment deed or lease. A lender financing a project should confirm the site plan and mutation records match the reduced land parcel size, since allotment beyond the new ceiling could expose the title to cancellation. The plantation condition also becomes a covenant that a due diligence checklist should track, since non compliance could trigger a breach notice from the Revenue Department. Existing allotments made before the amendment likely remain grandfathered, but this should be confirmed against the specific allotment letter date.