How do you best utilise a semi-arid region? Consult Pavagada, a town in Karnataka, for answers. It is home to the world’s largest solar power park, known as Shakti Sthala, which is now fully operational. It is expected to generate 2,050 MW of clean energy, and was built at a cost of Rs.165 billion. This is seen as a major step in meeting the goals of Paris Agreement 2015, of which India is a signatory. The power park has been built on the land that belongs to a drought-hit region. Not just once, the region has been declared drought-hit by the Karnataka Government 54 times in the past 60 years. In a bid to help struggling farmers, the Karnataka Solar Power Development Corporation (KSPDCL) has leased this land from them instead of purchasing it. The farmers will be paid Rs.21,000 per acre a year with a 5% escalation every two years