Metro's Green Delay: Survey Timing Sparks Outrage

The Gurgaon metro project faces criticism regarding the timing of its environmental impact assessment for a proposed spur line near the Basai Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) and Important Bird Area (IBA). The survey for assessing the ecological impact, including migratory bird populations, is scheduled for July 2026. However, environmental experts state that this timing is too late, as the migratory birds, which earned the site its protected status, depart Haryana by March. Conducting the survey in July would provide an incomplete picture and defeat the purpose of understanding the site's ecological significance during peak bird activity.

The Basai wetland, crucial for migratory birds along the Central Asian Flyway, was designated an Important Bird Area. Despite this, the environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) lists the survey for July 2026, after the migratory season concludes. This timing is particularly problematic as the biodiversity assessment is intended to guide mitigation measures for the metro project. The ESIA also indicates that piling work near the KBA was slated to begin by the end of June 2026, preceding the biodiversity survey.

Adding to the concerns, the Basai wetland has experienced significant ecological changes prior to the planned survey. The wetland, sustained by treated wastewater, dried up after a sewage drain was repaired. The site has since been backfilled and is being converted into agricultural land. The ESIA classifies Basai KBA as a "modified habitat" instead of a "critical habitat," a designation that carries weaker protection requirements, without clear justification considering its historical importance for migratory birds.