Supreme Court Takes Bold Step to Save Endangered Great Indian Bustard

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In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court has expanded the priority conservation area for the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard in Rajasthan and Gujarat, and imposed strict restrictions on new overhead power lines, wind turbines, and solar plants in these zones. The order, issued on Friday, came after a nine-member expert committee recommended conservation measures to protect the dwindling population of the bird species. The court accepted the committee's suggestion to increase the priority area for the bustard in both states, from 13,163 sq km to 14,013 sq km in Rajasthan and from 500 sq km to 740 sq km in Gujarat. The revised priority area will see no new overhead power lines, except through dedicated power corridors, and no new wind turbines or solar plants with a capacity exceeding 2MW. The court also ordered the undergrounding of critical power lines within the revised priority area, where feasible, and directed the immediate undergrounding of approximately 250km of critical power lines identified as posing a high risk to the bird. The Wildlife Institute had already identified these lines, and the court has given two years to complete the undergrounding process. The court's order is a significant victory for wildlife conservationists, who have been fighting to protect the Great Indian Bustard, listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The bird's population in India was reported at 150 in 2021, and experts warn that the species is on the brink of extinction. The court's decision also emphasizes the importance of corporate social responsibility, reminding power companies that their environmental impact must be considered alongside their social obligations. The court has directed CSR funds to be used for ex-situ and in-situ conservation efforts to prevent extinction, not just as charity, but as a fulfillment of constitutional obligation. The order was issued on a petition filed by wildlife conservationist MK Ranjitsinh, who approached the court in 2019 seeking a comprehensive policy to preserve populations of the Great Indian Bustard and Lesser Florican. The court's decision is a significant step towards protecting these endangered species and preserving the ecosystem.