Great Indian Bustard nearing extinction due to high voltage power lines: Env Ministry

The critically endangered Great Indian Bustard(GIB) is nearing extinction due to collision with high voltage power lines that criss-cross their flying path, according to a report by the Ministry of Environment.

The report, which has been prepared by the Wildlife Institute of India(WII), a statutory body under the ministry, said only 150 GIBs are left, with the maximum number in Jaisalmer. They are dying at the rate of 15 per cent annually due to collision with high voltage power lines.

The GIB population has been reduced by 75 per cent in the last 30 years, said the WII report which has compiled various studies conducted by researchers across the country.

"Mortality of adult GIBs is high due to collision with power lines that criss-cross their flying path. All bustards are prone to collision due to their poor frontal vision and inability to see the power lines from a distance," it said.

WII's research has shown that power lines, particularly high voltage (33-440 KV) transmission lines with vertical alignment are the biggest threat to GIB as of now and their habitats have a high density of transmission lines because of the impetus on renewable energy production in GIB habitats of Rajasthan and Gujarat.

"The study recorded 5 GIB deaths in 2017-18 in Jaisalmer alone and calculated that 15 per cent of the GIB population may be dying because of this threat. Since the natural death rate of large bustards is 4-8 per cent, the current additive mortality rate due to transmission lines is significantly higher and if not controlled, can result in the species extinction," the report said.

The report was submitted by the ministry to the NGT on the plea of Bhanu Bansal, secretary of NGO Centre for Wildlife and Environmental Litigation (CWEL) seeking conservation of GIB to save them from extinction.

Referring to the report, Bansal said the need of the hour was to put the power lines underground and install bird diverters to save them from being electrocuted.

"Protection and conservation of GIB is the need of the hour. Report itself says that lakhs of birds die every year due to power lines. There is an urgent need to put bird diverters and underground the power lines to bring the mortality rate down," he said.

According to the report, "The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) is a critically endangered bird with less than 150 individuals left in India and the world and are in an urgent need of conservation actions."