Great Indian Bustard habitats to be declared conservation reserves

NEW DELHI: Seeking to protect the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard, the Union Environment ministry has decided to declare their habitats as conservation reserves and asked power companies to consider placing high voltage lines under the ground as the birds have died after coming into contact with them.

During a meeting held by a committee under the ministry, constituted in pursuance to the directions of the National Green Tribunal, it was also decided to have time bound action plan for the implementation of mitigation measures such as installation of bird diverters and their regular maintenance and monitoring by power agencies.

“All the power line development agencies already working in GIB habitat or intend to work should be invited specially to discuss and consider the technological and economic feasibility of under-grounding different capacity of power lines,” Siddhanta Das, DG Forests and Special Secretary, who chaired the committee meeting, said.The committee, after its meeting held recently, also directed the WII to furnish the details about power lines identified for mitigation in the GIB habitat area along with details of power line owners to the ministries of power and non-renewable energy so that necessary action may be initiated. The report had compiled various studies conducted by researchers across the country on GIBs.