In January 2018, the first phase of Shakti Sthala Solar Power Park was commissioned in Pavagada, Tumkur district of Karnataka. Spread over 13,000 acres, the 2 GW project is claimed to be India's biggest solar power park, and second biggest in the world. The project became fully operational in December 2019.

The land on which the solar park stands has been leased from 1,948 farmers who were made to part with their land by retired government revenue officials who belonged to the region and were respected by the people**. While some find this way of getting hold of land to be unique, researchers claim it bypasses the need for conducting social impact assessments and public hearings. This is something which is a mandatory requirement if the lands were acquired under the LARR Act, 2015. **

Many of these leased-out farmlands served as grazing areas or traditional pathways for other grazing grounds where herding communities would take their livestock for grazing. Setting up of the plant prevented them from accessing those areas, affecting their livelihoods. Community members claimed that women were not consulted during the leasing of land, even though they farmed those lands. Neither did they find any jobs in the solar park after it was set up.

LCW spoke with a farmer, Ashok Naidu, who had leased out 40 acres of his land for the park, to find out about his experience. Naidu said that the Solar Park venture had not kept its word of providing 8000 jobs to the community, with priority to the families whose lands are leased for the park. So far, only 800 to 1000 jobs (security guards mostly with a low salary) have been provided to only a few men in the community. He said that he and other community members had come together many times to protest and ask for the jobs that were promised to prevent the outward migration of the community.

Greenery has also been a problem, he pointed out. "There is no greenery since the park has come, leading to drastic changes in the temperature of Pavagada. The authorities of the park had promised to restore 10 % to 30 % of the greenery but had not kept its word."

He informed LCW that he has been receiving Rs 21,000 per acre per year for his land. This amount is increased by Rs 1050, every two years. He says that this amount is not enough for him and his family. In 2015, when he gave his land away, there were many challenges faced by agriculture, in terms of water so he thought the only way was to lease his land. But now he feels trapped with no job opportunities in his village.

LCW also spoke with Sheshadri Rao, a researcher with the Indian Institute of Science. In his view, the current mode of leasing out land from farmers was a fair arrangement because it helps the farmer earn a higher and more stable income as agriculture in the region is becoming increasingly unpredictable. He says in today's context the lease amount is six times more than the best profit a farmer can make per acre per year. He further emphasises that the lease model keeps the farmer's right to sell his land secure. However, he too felt that locking the land in 40 year leases may not be completely fair to the farmers. It may also have some consequences on the socio-cultural aspects of the villages of the area.

As of May 2023, community members continue to await the jobs that were promised to them.

In a survey conducted by LCW in October 2024, it was found that the local caste-power dynamics played a significant role in the process of land leasing and getting jobs. A total of 21 posts of security guards in the solar plant remains unfulfilled due to a tussle between Vokkaliga and Reddy community. Villagers who do get jobs on contractual basis claimed that the incomes were far less than what is dictated as a minimum wage per day. They receive Rs 500 instead of Rs 800 for a day's work. The villagers also claim prevalence of corruption by developers and upper-caste contractors in CSR funding. Women belonging to Scheduled Castes (Madiga) and Scheduled Tribes (Valmiki-Naik) communities remain the most adversely affected.

Meanwhile, Energy Minister K J George said that the second phase of the solar park to increase the generation capacity by another 2,000 MW will be completed by 2027.

In May 2025, the Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) floated a tender for setting up a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) of 250 megawatt (MW)/1100 MwH capacity within the Pavagada solar park. The aim of BESS is to utilise the energy generated during solar hours in non-solar hours and thereby optimise grid utilisation.