Between development and conservation: Environmental movements, state power and politics of resistance in contemporary Rajasthan

This research paper examines three contemporary environmental movements in Rajasthan, India: The Let Jaipur Breathe movement, the Shahbad Jungle Bachao Aandolan, and the Khejri Bachao Aandolan. These movements represent critical flashpoints in the ongoing tension between economic development and environmental conservation in Rajasthan. The Let Jaipur Breathe campaign seeks to protect the Dol Ka Badh forest, the last remaining wild forest in Jaipur, from conversion into an industrial zone. The Shahbad movement opposes the felling of over 100,000 trees for a pumped storage hydroelectric project in Baran district, threatening biodiversity and tribal livelihoods. The Khejri Bachao Aandolan mobilizes thousands to protect the khejri tree, Rajasthan's state tree, from being cut for solar power projects across the desert districts. Drawing on academic literature, contemporary news sources, and historical precedents, this paper analyses the strategies, stakeholders, and outcomes of these movements while situating them within broader debates about sustainable development and community-based conservation in India. The findings reveal that these movements employ diverse tactics, including legal challenges, mass mobilization, political engagement, and cultural symbolism, while facing significant challenges from development pressures and policy gaps.