Supreme Court Orders Strong Conservation Measures For Great Indian Bustard, Restricts Renewable Projects In Rajasthan

The Supreme Court has issued a series of important directions aimed at conserving the Great Indian Bustard (GIB), also known as Godawan, while approving certain restrictions on future renewable energy projects in Rajasthan. The directions were issued by a two-judge bench comprising Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice Atul S. Chandurkar while disposing of writ petitions related to the protection of the Great Indian Bustard and the Lesser Florican, both of which are on the verge of extinction.

The court accepted the recommendations of an expert committee that had been appointed earlier to examine the feasibility of underground power lines and other mitigation measures. As per the directions, the revised priority conservation area for the Great Indian Bustard in Rajasthan will be 14,013 square kilometers, while in Gujarat it will be 740 square kilometers. The Court directed that all measures recommended by the committee for in-situ and ex-situ conservation of the bird in these priority areas must be implemented immediately. Monitoring of the species in the revised priority areas will also begin without delay, along with long-term studies on the impact of climate change on the bird.

The court approved restrictions on future renewable energy projects within the revised priority areas of Rajasthan. It also accepted the recommendation to create a power corridor of up to five kilometers in width, located at least five kilometers south of the southern-most enclosure of the Desert National Park. Certain relaxations were allowed, including the decision that mitigation of existing and future power lines of 11 kV and below within a 100-meter buffer around settlements is not necessary.

The bench directed the immediate undergrounding of 80 kilometers of 33 kV power lines in Rajasthan and accepted mitigation measures for the other 33 kV lines in the revised priority areas. It also ordered the rerouting of specific existing power lines of 66 kV and above in a time-bound manner. All mitigation measures, including undergrounding and rerouting of power lines, must begin immediately and be completed within two years. Additionally, 250 kilometers of critical power lines identified by the Wildlife Institute of India will be undergrounded within the same time frame.

The Court observed that climate change and unplanned development pose serious threats and noted that the planet is witnessing a sixth mass extinction. It highlighted the sharp decline in the population of the Great Indian Bustard, which has been classified as a critically endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. According to estimates, only a very small population of the bird remains today, mostly in the Thar Desert region.

The judgment also stressed the cultural importance of the Godawan in Rajasthan, where it is deeply linked to local traditions, folklore, and desert communities. The court underlined that conservation of the bird is not only an ecological necessity but also a shared cultural responsibility.

The Supreme Court further emphasized the role of Corporate Social Responsibility, stating that companies must treat environmental protection as a statutory duty rather than a voluntary charity. It held that when corporate activities threaten endangered species, the polluter pays principle applies, and companies must bear the cost of conservation and recovery efforts. The court directed that CSR funds should be used for both in-situ and ex-situ conservation to prevent extinction.

Concluding the matter, the Court expressed confidence that the committee’s measures are effective and directed authorities to regularly assess their impact. It also asked for further scientific evaluation of bird flight diverters before large-scale deployment. With these directions, the Supreme Court disposed of the petitions and appeals, setting a clear framework for balancing wildlife conservation with development activities.