Great Indian Bustard Conservation Power Line Corridors
The Supreme Court-appointed committee in 2024 has proposed dedicated corridors for power lines in Rajasthan and Gujarat to protect the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB). This move aims to balance renewable energy growth with wildlife conservation. The committee suggested rerouting existing lines and burying some underground to reduce bird collisions. The recommendations are set for Supreme Court review soon.
Background on Great Indian Bustard Conservation
The Great Indian Bustard is critically endangered with fewer than 150 individuals left in the wild. Its population has declined due to hunting, habitat loss, egg poaching, predation, and low reproduction rates. Renewable energy infrastructure expansion in its habitat has increased risks. The birds often collide fatally with power transmission lines due to poor frontal vision and heavy bodies.
Supreme Court Mandate and Committee Formation
In March 2024, the Supreme Court modified a previous order requiring underground power lines over 80,000 sq km in Rajasthan and Gujarat. The court recognised the importance of renewable energy and tasked a seven-member expert committee to find a balanced solution. The committee was asked to assess the feasibility of overhead and underground lines and propose conservation measures for the GIB.
Committee Recommendations on Power Line Corridors
The committee proposed designated power corridors in Rajasthan and Gujarat to channel most power lines. This would reduce line criss-crossing and risks to the GIB. Some existing lines near critical habitats should be rerouted through these corridors. A joint committee of forest departments, Central Electricity Authority, and Wildlife Institute of India will identify these stretches based on ecology and technical feasibility.
Specific Corridor Proposals in Rajasthan and Gujarat
In Rajasthan, a 5 km wide corridor is proposed south of Desert National Park for east-west connectivity across the GIB priority conservation area. Planned power projects lie west of this zone. Gujarat will have two corridors – one for evacuating wind power in Kutch coastal areas and another for a 400 kV high-voltage line in northern Kutch within the GIB habitat.
Mitigation Measures and Urgent Actions
The committee recommended insulating high-voltage lines and burying certain sections underground. About 80 km of lines near bustard enclosures and past death sites in Rajasthan are prioritised for immediate undergrounding. Similar urgent measures apply to identified sections in Gujarat. These steps aim to reduce bird electrocution and collisions.
Revised GIB Habitat Priority Areas
The committee revised the GIB priority area to 14,013 sq km in Rajasthan by retaining the original zone and adding 850 sq km from additional important areas. Some areas with fewer sightings were excluded to allow power transmission. In Gujarat, the priority area increased from 500 sq km to 740 sq km, excluding fragmented northern parts of the habitat.
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