In a significant development for the renewable energy sector, the Supreme Court has granted relaxation to solar and wind power companies planning projects within the habitat of the endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB) in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
This decision, announced on Thursday, comes as a boon for major players in the industry, including NTPC, Adani Green, ACME, and ReNew, among others, who collectively aim to develop approximately 60 gigawatts (gw) of renewable capacity. The apex court’s modification of its 2021 order expands the usable space for green energy projects by opening up an additional 80,000 square kilometres of land. Previously, the court had mandated underground cabling for solar energy projects in April 2021, particularly in areas designated as priority habitat for the GIB. However, the recent ruling relaxes this requirement, providing a significant reprieve for project developers. The priority area for GIB is 13,000 sq km in Rajasthan and 477 sq km in Gujarat. The potential area for green energy use is 78,500 sq km in Rajasthan and 2,108 sq km in Gujarat. These two states are among India’s leading solar power producers.
The apex court was responding to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by former bureaucrat M K Ranjitsinh along with the Corbett Foundation; Piraram Bishnoi, a wildlife activist in Rajasthan; Navinbhai Bapat, a birder in Gujarat; and Santosh Martin, an activist in Karnataka. In the PIL, the petitioners urged that the GIB is a ‘critically endangered’ bird, so to aid its conservation efforts, the line should be underground and not overhead. As GIB is partially blind and a low flying bird, it gets stuck in transmission lines and perishes. India, being one of the leading solar power producers globally, has vast untapped potential for green energy utilisation. Rajasthan and Gujarat, in particular, boast considerable land resources suitable for solar and wind energy projects. However, the coexistence of these projects alongside the conservation of endangered species like the GIB remains a delicate balance that requires careful consideration.
The decision to relax restrictions on solar and wind projects in GIB habitats follows a plea by the central government, Rajasthan government, and stakeholders in the renewable energy industry. Concerns were raised about the substantial increase in project costs associated with underground transmission, estimated at Rs 1.5 trillion by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. The court said this week the cost of burning coal is higher than allowing over ground transmission lines for green energy projects. The court asked the centre to form a five-member committee to examine projects to be built in the potential area. It also directed the centre to take steps in conservation of GIB. The industry submitted that it will form a common pool of resources for GIB conservation.
