The Indian government’s decision to relax border security norms along the India-Pakistan border has sparked intense debate. In a report by the Guardian, official documents are shown to reveal that national security protocols were amended to facilitate the construction of the world’s largest renewable energy park by the Adani Group. The project, located in Gujarat’s Rann of Kutch, has been handed over to Adani, a conglomerate controlled by Gautam Adani, whose close ties to Prime Minister Narendra Modi have faced increasing scrutiny.
The move has raised concerns over national security, given that the Khavda renewable energy park is just 1 km from the border. Historically, the Rann of Kutch has been a site of military conflict between India and Pakistan, making previous security protocols stringent in restricting large-scale infrastructure projects. However, following pressure from the Gujarat government, the Ministry of Defence agreed in April 2023 to relax these guidelines, making the land viable for commercial renewable energy projects. By August, land originally controlled by the state-run Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) had been transferred to the Adani Group.
Also read: SEBI Probes Adani Group Amid US Bribery Allegations
Security Concerns vs. Economic Gains
Confidential minutes from government meetings show that military officials expressed apprehension over the implications of such a project. Concerns included the impact of solar panel installations on tank mobilization and security surveillance. Yet, these concerns were overruled after assurances from developers that the project’s infrastructure would not impede India’s defensive capabilities. Furthermore, modifications requested by the military, such as changes to the size of solar panels, were dismissed as financially unfeasible.
Strategic analysts have warned that placing a high-value private energy asset so close to a volatile international border could compromise India’s defensive posture. Ajai Shukla, a former Indian Army colonel, emphasized that “altering border defence norms for commercial exploitation shifts additional security burdens onto the military for private gain.” Military officers have also questioned how India would respond to potential security threats in the region, particularly regarding anti-tank and anti-personnel measures.
The Financial Windfall for Adani
The relaxation of border protocols significantly increased the value of the land in Khavda. Initially allotted to SECI, the land was deemed commercially unviable under previous security restrictions. However, with new rules allowing infrastructure projects closer to the border, the value of this land surged, ultimately benefiting the Adani Group, which secured the lease through a Gujarat government committee led by BJP Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
Khavda now covers approximately 445 sq km—four times the size of Paris—and is projected to generate 30 GW of renewable energy. High-profile customers, including Google, are set to source power from the park, further cementing Adani’s dominance in India’s green energy sector.
Political Fallout and Opposition Critique
The Congress party has strongly condemned the government’s decision, accusing the Modi administration of prioritizing corporate interests over national security. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the move, stating that it “endangered national security for the benefit of private billionaires,” questioning why the Prime Minister had altered established security norms to favor Adani.
Other senior Congress leaders, including K.C. Venugopal, raised alarms about the implications of allowing such a project near the Pakistan border, calling it “a threat to national security.” Rahul Gandhi went further, alleging that Adani has “hijacked India” and that Modi is actively shielding the tycoon from scrutiny.
This controversy follows a series of allegations against Adani. In November, a U.S. indictment accused the Adani Group of engaging in a $265 million bribery scheme to secure lucrative solar energy contracts. The conglomerate has denied the allegations, calling them “baseless” and pledging to explore legal remedies.
A Shift in India’s Strategic Posture?
One of the most consequential aspects of the policy shift is its broader impact on India’s national security. The relaxation of border security norms was not limited to Gujarat but also extended to areas bordering Bangladesh, China, Myanmar, and Nepal. Such sweeping changes could redefine India’s military strategy, raising concerns about the balance between economic development and national defense.
For now, the Adani Group continues its rapid expansion in India’s green energy sector, bolstered by government policies that have proven highly lucrative for the conglomerate. Whether the security trade-offs made in Khavda will have lasting repercussions remains to be seen, but for critics, this is yet another example of crony capitalism under the Modi administration.
