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By Vivek Saini
The Great Indian Bustard’s Precarious Perch
The Great Indian Bustard (GIB), with majestic stature, unique black crown, and sandy brown plumage, is a remarkable bird found only in India’s grasslands and semi-arid scrublands. Unfortunately, this extraordinary creature is on the brink of extinction. Classified as “Critically Endangered” on the IUCN Red List since 2011, with a population estimated to be less than 150 individuals, the GIB faces many threats. Habitat loss and fragmentation are the primary culprits, with their remaining strongholds concentrated in Rajasthan and Gujarat. Unfortunately, these landscapes also hold immense potential for renewable energy generation through wind and solar power.
This conflict is not just a matter of concern; it’s a heart-wrenching battle. Pursuing a greener future through renewable energy inadvertently puts the GIB at immediate risk. High-tension power lines, a crucial part of this energy revolution, fragment their habitat, acting as physical barriers that disrupt breeding grounds, foraging areas, and migration routes. Even more alarming is the direct threat posed by these power lines. Collisions with overhead power lines are a significant cause of mortality for the GIB, with their large size and display flights making them particularly vulnerable. Electrocution can also occur when the birds come in contact with live wires.
Sutirtha Lahiri, PhD Student of Conservation Science at the University of Minnesota, USA, told CFC that “Most grasslands in India, including the semi-arid and arid grasslands that house the GIB, are facing multiple stressors, mostly due to either age-old misclassification of grasslands or threats from land-use change and infrastructure development. Recent studies show how open, intact grasslands are key for birds like the GIB.” he also highlighted One of the biggest threats to the Great Indian Bustard population besides power lines in many of the landscapes they occur in is free-ranging dogs. “They have been documented to predate on eggs or attack and kill bustards in their home ranges. A lack of connectivity between different open grassland landscapes also imperils bustards.”
The GIB’s plight is a stark reminder of the delicate balance between conservation and development. India’s ambitious goals for renewable energy production are crucial for combating climate change, yet they must be achieved without sacrificing this irreplaceable species.
Power Lines vs. Underground Cables – A Costly Conundrum
While overhead power lines remain the traditional and cost-effective method for transmitting electricity, they pose a significant threat to the Great Indian Bustard (GIB). These above-ground lines fragment the GIB’s habitat and directly endanger the birds through collisions and electrocution. Underground cabling, on the other hand, offers a solution by eliminating these risks. However, this seemingly straightforward answer comes with a significant financial hurdle. Lahiri emphasised that reflectors, traditionally used as mitigation measures, fare poorly when saving birds from colliding. It is vital to prevent new power lines from coming and keep the remaining underground.
Estimates suggest underground cabling can be five to ten times more expensive than overhead power lines. The cost difference stems from several factors. Installing underground cables requires extensive trenching, which is labour-intensive and disrupts the landscape. Additionally, underground cables are more expensive to manufacture and install than traditional overhead conductors. While the initial investment for underground cabling is undeniably higher, it’s essential to consider the potential long-term benefits. Underground cables require less maintenance than overhead lines, as they are not exposed to the elements or prone to damage from birds or extreme weather events. This can lead to significant cost savings over the lifespan of the infrastructure.
There’s also the environmental impact to consider. While underground cabling eliminates the threat to birds, installing trenching can cause some habitat disturbance. Careful planning and mitigation strategies are crucial to minimise this impact. For example, trenching could be timed to avoid sensitive breeding seasons, and habitat restoration efforts could be implemented following construction.
The choice between overhead power lines and underground cables presents a complex dilemma. The cost-effectiveness of overhead lines makes them the default option in many situations. However, their devastating impact on the critically endangered GIB necessitates exploring alternative solutions. Finding a way to bridge the cost gap between these options is essential for achieving a sustainable future prioritising clean energy and biodiversity conservation.
The Great Indian Bustard: A Catalyst for Legal Change
The plight of the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) transcends the realm of bird conservation. This magnificent creature has unexpectedly become a symbol of environmental justice in India, playing a pivotal role in a landmark Supreme Court decision. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by conservationist and a retired IAS officer, Dr. M.K. Ranjitsinh, in 2021 aimed to protect the GIB by placing restrictions on power line infrastructure in critical GIB habitat. While seemingly focused on a specific bird species, this legal action ultimately triggered a ripple effect with far-reaching consequences.
In March 2024, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark verdict that expanded the interpretation of the Indian Constitution’s right to life and equality. The Court recognised the right to be free from the adverse impacts of climate change, a groundbreaking decision with significant implications for environmental protection in India. This ruling, culminating in the GIB case, elevated the fight against climate change to a fundamental right, placing a more substantial legal obligation on the government to take action. Before this ruling, the right to a clean environment existed under separate legal principles. However, the Supreme Court’s judgment brought these principles together, resulting in a more nuanced approach to environmental protection in the context of climate change.
The GIB case is a powerful testament to the interconnectedness of environmental issues. The fight to save a single bird species, the GIB, ultimately contributed to a broader legal victory for environmental justice in India. This case demonstrates the potential for public interest litigation to address large-scale environmental challenges. Dr Ranjitsinh’s PIL aimed to protect the GIB and highlighted the conflict between renewable energy development and its unintended consequences for wildlife. By bringing this conflict to light, the case forced a legal reckoning that resulted in a more nuanced approach to environmental protection in the context of climate change. It also opens up a world of possibilities for collaboration between scientists, engineers, policymakers, and conservationists to develop and implement effective solutions.
The Supreme Court’s decision paves the way for a future where environmental considerations are integrated into development planning. Future infrastructure projects will likely face greater scrutiny to ensure they do not infringe upon the right to be free from climate change impacts. This legal precedent empowers environmental activists and communities to challenge projects threatening their well-being and the environment. The GIB case serves as a beacon of hope, demonstrating how fighting endangered species can have far-reaching consequences, promoting broader environmental justice and a more sustainable future for India.
Can Innovation Bridge the Gap Between Conservation and Development?
The plight of the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) underscores the need for innovative solutions that can harmonise conservation and development. While overhead power lines pose a significant threat to the GIB, abandoning this technology altogether is unrealistic for India’s ambitious renewable energy goals. Fortunately, advancements in technology and policy offer promising avenues for achieving a win-win scenario, giving us hope for a sustainable future.
One approach involves mitigating bird collisions with existing power lines. Bird diverters, visible markers attached to power lines, can improve a bird’s ability to detect the lines and avoid collisions. These relatively inexpensive devices can be a readily deployable solution for existing infrastructure. Research is also ongoing into developing overhead power line designs with better visibility. Concepts include utilising special coatings or patterns that enhance the lines’ visual contrast, making them more easily detectable by birds. Additionally, some studies explore the potential of ultraviolet light patterns incorporated into power lines. These patterns would be invisible to humans but detectable by birds with their more expansive range of vision.
Looking beyond the immediate challenges, innovation in power line infrastructure holds promise. Underground cabling, while expensive, offers a definitive solution by eliminating the threat to birds. However, the high cost remains a significant barrier to widespread adoption. Policy interventions could be crucial in making underground cabling a more viable option. For example, the government could implement subsidies or tax breaks for companies that invest in underground cabling in sensitive bird habitats. Additionally, research into more cost-effective methods for underground cable installation could significantly improve its feasibility.
Advancements in alternative transmission technologies offer intriguing possibilities for the future. Wireless power transmission, while still in its early stages of development, has the potential to revolutionise how we transmit electricity. This technology could eliminate the need for power lines, remove the threat to birds, and offer a more sustainable solution for long-distance energy transmission.
By embracing innovation and exploring all available options, we can pave the way towards a sustainable future, prioritising clean energy and preserving endangered species like the GIB. However, this is a task for more than one group. Collaboration between scientists, engineers, policymakers, and conservationists is not just important but crucial to developing and implementing practical solutions that ensure a healthy balance between development and environmental protection. It’s a shared responsibility that we must all take part in.
References:
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/pdf/134188105
https://www.bnhs.org/content-details/great-indian-bustard
https://www.jicable.org/tout_jicable.html
https://mercomindia.com/cea-underground-transmission-lines-endangered-bird-area
https://main.sci.gov.in/supremecourt/2019/20754/20754_2019_1_25_51677_Judgement_21-Mar-2024.pdf
https://www.aplic.org/documents
https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2006.01191.x
Image 1: https://wii.gov.in/images/images/documents/publications/rr_2022_GIB_Project_Report_CAMPA.pdf
Image 2: https://wii.gov.in/images//images/documents/species_recovery_programme/GIB_Landscape_Rajasthan.pdf
Image 3: https://wii.gov.in/images//images/documents/species_recovery_programme/GIB_Landscape_Gujarat.pdf
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Source: Photo by Simerpreet Cheema on Unsplash
