The recent move by the Centre to petition the Supreme Court for modification of an order concerning the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) has garnered attention. The court’s initial directive, issued with the intent to protect the endangered bird, called for all transmission cables within the bird’s habitat to be laid underground. However, the Centre’s request for modification points towards a potential conflict of interests, impacting both wildlife conservation and renewable energy production.
The Original Court Directive
Earlier in 2021, the Supreme Court directed that overhead power lines be laid underground whenever feasible within the habitats of endangered birds, specifically the Great Indian Bustard and Lesser Florican, located in Rajasthan and Gujarat. This directive was intended as a measure to protect these species, whose numbers have been steadily decreasing.
Implications for the Power Sector
Rajasthan and Gujarat hold a significant percentage of India’s total solar and wind energy potential. Consequently, the directive to lay power lines underground within these areas could increase the cost of renewable energy production. This outcome could hamper India’s efforts toward renewable energy goals and its commitment to the Paris Agreement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Under this agreement, India pledged to transition to non-fossil fuels, reduce emissions, and aims to have 175 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2022 and 450 GW by 2030.
Underexploited Renewable Energy Potential
Only about 3% of the estimated 263 GW renewable energy potential in Rajasthan and Gujarat is currently being utilized. If the remaining potential goes untapped, India may need an additional 93,000 MW of coal-fired capacity to compensate, which would have a negative environmental impact.
About the Great Indian Bustard (GIB)
The Great Indian Bustard, the state bird of Rajasthan, is India’s most critically endangered bird. Known as a flagship grassland species, it represents the health of grassland ecosystems. Its population is predominantly found in Rajasthan and Gujarat, but smaller populations exist in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. The bird faces several threats, including collisions with power transmission lines, hunting, habitat loss, and alteration due to agricultural expansion.
Protection Status of GIB
The Great Indian Bustard has been classified as “Critically Endangered” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. It’s also listed under Appendix 1 of both the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), and is under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Conservation Efforts for GIB
Several initiatives have been launched to protect and conserve the Great Indian Bustard. These include the Species Recovery Programme under the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC). National Bustard Recovery Plans are being implemented by conservation agencies. In June 2019, MoEF&CC, along with the Rajasthan government and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), set up a conservation breeding facility in the Desert National Park at Jaisalmer. The goal of this program is to increase the population of Great Indian Bustards by raising a captive population and releasing chicks into the wild.
The Rajasthan government has also launched Project Great Indian Bustard, aiming to construct breeding enclosures for the birds and develop infrastructure to reduce human pressure on their habitats. Lastly, a Task Force has been established to recommend eco-friendly measures to lessen the impact of power transmission lines and other infrastructures on wildlife, including the Great Indian Bustard.
