New Delhi: The Supreme Court bench led by the Chief Justice of India, SA Bobde, has directed the power distributors and power generators to examine the feasibility of undergrounding of over-head transmission power lines in Rajasthan and Gujarat in order to protect the Great Indian Bustard birds from extinction.
The bench, also comprising of Justice AS Bopanna and Justice V Ramasubramanian, was hearing a plea by MK Ranjit Singh pertaining to the declining numbers of the Great Indian Bustard.
It was earlier submitted in the court that 90 per cent of the bird population has disappeared and is found in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat now.
National and international experts believe that the power lines are a threat to the bustard and therefore installation of diverters and undergrounding of cable was sought.
Also Read: SC appoints former ASG, senior advocate to represent ED in coal scam case
Meanwhile, the government showed its concern and said that it is not feasible to lay high transmission lines underground.
However, Senior Advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the petitioner, had submitted that overhead electricity lines should be made underground because they pose a threat of electrocution of the Great Indian Bustard because they are very heavy birds with a wingspan of two metres and they lack frontal vision, therefore, they collide with the overhead lines.
Also Read: Time has come for appointment of woman as Chief Justice of India: SC
After listening to both sides, the top court had reserved its order on April 6 and pronounced the verdict on Monday.
The Great Indian Bustard is one of the heaviest flying birds endemic to the Indian subcontinent. They are primarily terrestrial birds with adult males as tall as 122 cm and weigh 11-15 kg and adult females reach up to 92 cm and weigh 4-7 kg.
Also Read: SC adjourns BCCI hearing; Ganguly, Shah to continue
