India's flagship renewable energy project, hailed as a cornerstone of the nation's green transition, is facing a severe human resource crisis. An investigation into the massive Khavda Renewable Energy Park in Gujarat has uncovered a litany of labour abuses driving workers away, threatening to derail the world's most ambitious solar and wind venture.
A Paradise Project Built on Hardship
Envisioned to power millions of homes with clean energy, the Khavda park's reality on the ground is one of blistering heat, financial insecurity, and exhausting demands. Workers report toiling in one of India's most extreme climates for weeks, only to be denied their full promised wages.
The Exodus of Labour
The project is bleeding manpower at an alarming rate. "They promised good money, but the reality is different," one former worker stated, echoing a sentiment felt by many. The primary grievances include:
- Systematic Wage Theft: Wages are routinely withheld or paid incomplete amounts, leaving workers and their families in precarious financial situations.
- Searing Heat & Inhumane Conditions: Temperatures regularly soar past 45°C (113°F), with inadequate shade, rest breaks, or access to cool drinking water, leading to widespread heat-related illnesses.
- Gruelling & Unregulated Hours: 12-hour shifts are standard, far exceeding norms and often without legally mandated overtime pay.
- Substandard Accommodation: Many workers are housed in cramped, temporary shelters with poor sanitation, compounding their physical strain.
Threat to India's Green Ambitions
This labour crisis poses a direct threat to India's goal of achieving 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030. The Khavda park is central to this strategy, but its breakneck construction pace appears to be coming at an unacceptable human cost. The high turnover rate is causing project delays and raising serious questions about the ethical foundations of the country's clean energy boom.
Corporate Response & Accountability
Adani Green Energy, the conglomerate leading the project's development, has acknowledged some wage payment delays, attributing them to rapid scaling and administrative processes. However, workers and labour rights groups demand more robust systems and transparent accountability to ensure fair treatment and safe working conditions, arguing that the future of green energy must be built on justice, not exploitation.
