In a recent interview with a leading business daily, Union Minister Prahlad Joshi acknowledged that renewable energy developers continue to face significant challenges in securing Right of Use for land. He said the Central Government is engaging with state governments to find an effective solution to the issue. The Minister also stressed that curbing interference by local leaders and political interests in the implementation of green energy projects is essential for ensuring their timely execution.
According to the Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA), around 253 wind energy projects are at various stages of development in Dharashiv district. While Dharashiv accounts for nearly half of Maharashtra's installed and upcoming wind energy capacity, these projects are also critical to the Central Government's target of achieving 100 GW of wind power by 2030. As of June 30, 2026, India’s total installed wind power capacity stood at 57.44 GW, and to meet the goal of 100 GW, the country will need to add nearly 11 GW of new wind power capacity every year over the coming years. Against which, only 6.05 GW of capacity was added during the 2025–26 financial year, highlighting the significant gap between the country's stated ambitions and the pace of implementation.
Industry experts believe that delays in securing Right of Use for land and the theft of valuable electrical equipment are the two principal factors slowing the implementation of renewable energy projects. In several instances, the process of obtaining land use rights is disrupted by local political interests or other vested groups. Even opposition from a handful of landowners can delay the execution of an entire wind energy project. Such delays not only extend project timelines but also lead to cost overruns, increase investment risks, and adversely affect the overall viability of projects.
In addition, the theft of copper cables, electrical equipment, control panels, and other high-value components has emerged as a major concern for renewable energy companies. Over the past few years, wind energy projects under construction in Dharashiv district have witnessed repeated incidents of theft and vandalism, with miscreants exploiting the cover of darkness to target project sites. Since January 2026, equipment worth more than ₹20 crore is estimated to have been stolen or damaged. These incidents have disrupted project execution and power generation, causing substantial financial losses to developers. They have also raised serious concerns about the adequacy of security arrangements at renewable energy project sites.
While the police have arrested suspects and recovered stolen property in some cases, the recovered equipment is often of little practical value. In most instances, the stolen material is dismantled or melted down before being sold. Copper cables are frequently cut into smaller pieces to facilitate transportation, rendering them unusable even when recovered. As a result, renewable energy companies are unable to recover their losses, as the retrieved equipment cannot be restored or put back into service.
Maintaining law and order and ensuring timely Right of Use facilitations are the State Government's responsibility. While Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' Zero-Tolerance Policy has eased some administrative bottlenecks, stronger enforcement is now needed to curb vested interests that obstruct projects, expedite land access and safeguard project assets. Without decisive action, delays will continue to inflate costs, undermine project viability and put Maharashtra's, and India's; renewable energy targets at risk.
