Parliament Question: Great Indian Bustard

OIH GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3838 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026 Great Indian Bustard

3838. SHRI BRIJENDRA SINGH OLA Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that high-tension power lines laid in the habitat of Great Indian Bustard are becoming a major cause of death for this critically endangered species;

(b) if so, the number of Great Indian Bustards died due to collisions with high-tension power lines during the last five years and the current year, State/UT-wise;

(c) whether it is a fact that the Supreme Court has issued directions to lay underground high- tension power lines in sensitive areas or the adoption of effective alternative measures to protect the Great Indian Bustard;

(d) if so, the status of compliance with these directions so far by the Government working in collaboration with the State, State/UT-wise;

(e) the details of fund utilised by the Government so far on alternative measures like removal/laying underground high-tension lines, installation of bird diverters, line rerouting etc. in the major habitat areas of Great Indian Bustard; and

(f) whether the Government has any action plan for the coming years and time-line fixed in this regard? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (f) The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) is a critically endangered species, found in localised grassland habitats and have been facing challenges of habitat degradation and anthropogenic factors. The decline in the population of the Great Indian Bustards is associated with variety of factors such as loss of habitat, degradation of habitat quality, enhanced agriculture, and predation by feral and domesticated dogs, other wild carnivores and associated anthropogenic activities. The collision with the high tension power line and wind mills are also one of the reasons of mortality. Further, GIBs are also considered as slow breeder.

Hon’ble Supreme Court in its judgment dated 19.12.205 in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 838 of 2019, in the matter of M.K. Ranjitsinh & Ors. vs. Union of India,had also directed actions related to mitigation for transmission lines, including undergrounding, rerouting, etc., passing through identified priority areas for GIB conservation in the States of Rajasthan and Gujarat. The Ministry has requested the concerned State Governments for needful action on the directions of the Hon’ble Court.

The Ministry is implementing a 'Project Great Indian Bustard (Conservation Action Plan for GIB and Lesser Florican' in collaboration with GIB range States and Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun for a period of five years. The project includes activities aimed at conservation breeding of the GIB in State of Rajasthan, restoration of grasslands, protection and monitoring, scientific habitat management, threat mitigation and applied research.

Two conservation breeding centers have been established at Sam and Ramdevra in Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan. The programme has developed techniques for artificial hatching, chick rearing, bustard husbandry, and captive breeding. The GIB has been bred in captivity successfully under this programme. The GIB centeres house 68 birds, of which 33 are sourced as eggs from the wild

(founders) and remaining 35 are bred in captivity. *****