JAISALMER: A vast majority the 909 wind power projects commissioned in the state listed on the website of the Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited are in Jaisalmer district, which is now home to one of the largest wind farms in the world. By March 2015, over 3,000 MW of power were generated from the state's windmills. In the 15 years since the first windmills were erected, however, there has been no study of the environmental or social impact of the windmills. Abdul Khan, a Manganiar who lives near Kanoi village in Jaisalmer said, "In the four years since the windmills came up near our houses, we have lost our sleep. My 80-year-old mother and wife are now both on medication for mental illnesses. The doctor says they should sleep well. But we cannot get any sleep at all. My mother keeps repeating that she voted for Rajiv Gandhi, and he will turn off these windmills."

Kanoi is right on the border of the Desert National Park. Under the law, no windmills are allowed within a five-km distance of the boundary of DNP. The windmills, however, stand less than a km away from the park boundary. Villagers say the sound is a constant presence, and a great disturbance in the night when everything else falls silent.

Kanoi's villagers have petitioned local authorities and even sat in a 100-day dharna in 2011. They have suggested that the windmills be forced to stop production at night, so the elderly can sleep in peace.

"I was arrested for 24 hours for protesting against the windmills," says Abdul Khan. "Then neighbours and my children said I should keep away from trouble for I have my mother and wife to look after."

Aala Ram, a shopkeeper in the area, also says his family is sick and tired of the endless noise. "We are poor people and no one listens to us," he says.

In December 2014, Gajraj Singh of the erstwhile royal family of Jodhpur who serves as state convenor for Intach (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage), wrote to chief minister Vasundhara Raje seeking her intervention.