Archive · 28 Jul 2025
Power Corridors Proposed for Great Indian Bustard Habitats
To protect the endangered Great Indian Bustard bird, a committee suggested special paths called power corridors for power lines in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
This aims to reduce bird deaths from power lines while allowing for renewable energy development.
The plan sets up protected areas but also allows certain existing lines to stay.
Some experts disagree on whether enough lines are being moved to ensure the birds' safety and continued need for power.
A Supreme Court-appointed committee proposed power corridors for transmission lines in Gujarat and Rajasthan to protect the Great Indian Bustard (GIB).
The GIB is the largest bustard species in India, and is critically endangered, with fewer than 150 remaining.
Revised priority areas for GIB conservation include 14,013 sq km in Rajasthan and 740 sq km in Gujarat.
The committee suggests burying certain power lines in key GIB habitats, along with individual assessments of 220 kV lines.
One committee member dissented, objecting to exempting several power lines from mitigation efforts.
- Who
- A Supreme Court-appointed expert committee, conservationists, and renewable energy developers.
- What
- A Supreme Court-appointed committee proposed power corridors and conservation strategies for the Great Indian Bustard.
- When
- The Supreme Court tasked the committee in March 2024, with recent proposals.
- Where
- Gujarat and Rajasthan, India.
- Why
- To reduce Great Indian Bustard deaths from power lines while balancing conservation with renewable energy development.
Conservationists & Dissenting Committee Member
Renewable Energy Developers & Committee
Power Line Mitigation
Conservationists & Dissenting Committee Member
Advocate for burying or rerouting more power lines.
Renewable Energy Developers & Committee
Committee's plan allows some existing power lines to remain, potentially reducing costs.
- GIB IUCN Status
- Critically Endangered
- Rajasthan Priority Area
- 14,013 sq km
- Gujarat Priority Area
- 740 sq km
- Rajasthan Corridor Width
- 5 km
- Gujarat Corridor Width
- 1-2 km
- State Bird
- Rajasthan
