Supreme Court Saves Great Indian Bustard From Extinction

The Supreme Court recently issued a significant ruling on December 19th, establishing crucial conservation measures for the Great Indian Bustard. These directives, which will be implemented across Rajasthan and Gujarat, the bird's primary habitats, aim to prevent fatal collisions with power lines stemming from renewable energy projects. This ruling follows a 2019 petition highlighting the bird's declining numbers.

The court's decision is based on an expert committee's recommendations, which include revising "priority areas" for conservation and establishing "powerline corridors" to reroute overhead lines. New overhead power lines, except for low-capacity ones, and new wind turbines are prohibited in these revised priority areas. The court also mandates the undergrounding of certain power lines by 2028.

These measures aim to protect the Great Indian Bustard while acknowledging India's commitments to clean energy. Specific conservation actions include restoring grassland ecosystems and managing potential threats like free-ranging dogs. For Gujarat, a "jump-start" method using fertile eggs from Rajasthan for artificial incubation is also directed, alongside GPS tagging of birds.