Executive Summary:
This document is a response from the Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to questions raised in Lok Sabha regarding bird deaths due to wind turbines in the Thar desert, based on a Comprehensive Ecological Assessment by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). The response outlines existing measures for wildlife protection under the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972, and other related initiatives by the Ministry. The date of the response is 21.07.2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Legislative and Regulatory Framework:**
* The protection and management of wildlife is the primary responsibility of State Governments/Union Territory Administrations.
* The Wild Life Protection Act, 1972, protects wild animals including birds listed in schedules I and II.
* **Ministry's Initiatives for Wildlife Protection:**
* Creation of Protected Areas (National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves, and Community Reserves) under the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972.
* Notification of the Wetlands Conservation and Management Rules, 2017, for wetland protection.
* Financial assistance to States/UTs for wildlife protection and habitat development under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme Development of Wildlife Habitats.
* Recovery programs for critically endangered species (including Bustards, Edible nest Swiftlets, Nicobar Megapode, Jerdons Courser and Vultures) under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Development of Wildlife Habitats.
* Issuance of guidelines on eco-friendly measures to mitigate impacts of linear infrastructure on wildlife.
* Conservation efforts for the Great Indian Bustards (GIB) including conservation breeding, grassland restoration, fire prevention, predator-proof fencing, and community engagement in Rajasthan.
* Launch of an Action Plan for Vulture Conservation in November 2020, and establishment of eight Vulture Conservation Breeding Centres.
* **Studies and Actions:**
* State Governments/Union Territory Administrations and scientific institutions conduct studies on wildlife and take necessary actions based on their findings.
* The Ministry has not commissioned any study to assess the region-wise mortality of birds due to wind turbines.
Impact Analysis:
State Governments/Union Territory Administrations:
* Impact: Primarily responsible for the protection and management of wildlife within their jurisdiction. Need to implement and enforce the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972.
* Action Required: Continue to carry out studies on wildlife, including impacts of various parameters, and implement necessary actions based on the inferences drawn.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change:
* Impact: Responsible for providing guidance, financial assistance, and overall policy direction for wildlife conservation.
* Action Required: Continue to provide financial assistance to States/UTs, implement recovery programs for endangered species, and issue guidelines for mitigating impacts of infrastructure on wildlife.
Scientific Institutions:
* Impact: Play a crucial role in studying wildlife populations, assessing the impacts of various factors (including wind turbines), and providing scientific data to inform conservation efforts.
* Action Required: Continue to conduct research on wildlife, including the impacts of wind turbines, and provide data to State Governments/UT Administrations and the Ministry to inform conservation actions.
Key Entities Referenced
Wildlife Institute of India: An organization that conducted a Comprehensive Ecological Assessment.
Thar desert: A desert area in the State of Rajasthan where wind turbines are installed.
Rajasthan: A state in India where the Thar desert is located and where bird deaths due to wind turbines have been reported.
Wild Life Protection Act, 1972: An act that provides for the protection of wild animals, including birds.
Wetlands Conservation and Management rules, 2017: Rules notified by the Ministry for better protection of wetlands in the country.
Development of Wildlife Habitats: A Centrally Sponsored Scheme providing financial assistance to States/UTs for wildlife protection and habitat development.
Great Indian Bustards: A bird species that is being conserved through various measures, including conservation breeding and habitat restoration.
Action Plan for Vulture Conservation: A plan launched by the Ministry in November 2020 to conserve vultures.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5
TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025
Comprehensive Ecological Assessment conducted by WII
5. SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE:
SHRI CHAVAN RAVINDRA VASANTRAO:
SHRI MANISH JAISWAL:
SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether as per Comprehensive Ecological Assessment conducted by the Wildlife
Institute of India (WII) and published in a scientific reports journal that the wind
turbines installed in Thar desert across 3000 square kilometre areas in the State of
Rajasthan are responsible for an estimated 1359 bird deaths annually and if so, the
details thereof;
(b) whether mortality rate of birds in this region of the country is quite high as compared
to other parts of the country and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has prepared a list of the birds which are worst hit by the
turbine or windmills in this region and if so, the details thereof, species-wise;
(d) whether many of these species are near threatened species and if so, the details thereof
and the steps taken/being taken by the Government to protect these species; and
(e) the details of other steps taken/being taken by the Government to make these turbines
more visible to the birds and prevent death of the local and migratory birds?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (e) The protection and management of wildlife is the primary responsibility of the
concerned State Governments/Union Territory Administrations. The Wild Life
(Protection) Act, 1972 provides for the protection of wild animals including birds
listed in schedule I and II of the Act. The important steps taken by the Ministry for
protection of wildlife including bird species of the country include:
(i) Protected Areas, viz., National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation
Reserves and Community Reserves covering important wildlife habitats
have been created all over the country under the Wild Life (Protection) Act,
1972.(ii) The Ministry has notified the Wetlands (Conservation and Management)
rules, 2017, for better protection of wetlands in the country.
(iii) Financial assistance is provided to the States/UTs for protection and
management of wildlife and development of its habitats under the Centrally
Sponsored Scheme ‘Development of Wildlife Habitat’s per the annual plan
of operations received from the States Governments/ UT Administrations.
(iv) A specific component of ‘Recovery programmes for saving critically
endangered species and habitats’ is included in the ongoing Centrally
Sponsored Scheme of ‘Development of Wildlife Habitats’ for focused
conservation action on 24 identified critically endangered species including
Bustards, Edible nest Swiftlets, Nicobar Megapode, Jerdon’s Courser and
Vultures.
(v) The Ministry has issued guidelines on ecofriendly measure to mitigate
impacts of linear infrastructure on wildlife.
(vi) Several steps have been taken to conserve the Great Indian Bustards (GIB)
such as conservation breeding, restoration and scientific management of
grasslands, fire prevention measures, installation and maintenance of
predator proof fencing, community engagement activities for GIB
conservation etc. in different habitats including Rajasthan .
(vii) An Action Plan for Vulture Conservation was launched by the Ministry in
November, 2020.Eight Vulture Conservation Breeding Centres have been
set up across India.
The State Governments/Union Territory Administrations and scientific institutions
carry out different studies on wildlife, including impacts of various parameters, and
on basis of inferences, necessary actions are taken up by the concerned State
Governments /UT Administrations and authorities, as required. The Ministry has not
commissioned any study to assess the region-wise mortality of birds, due to wind
turbines.
***