Khushi Doshi
Published on: April 1, 2022 at 16:47 IST
The Supreme Court said that it was aware of the need for development and honouring International Commitments after the Centre and Rajasthan Government objected to an Order issued by the Apex Court a year ago directing overhead High Voltage Transmission Lines in Gujarat and Rajasthan to be laid underground in Order to save two endangered bird species – the Great Indian Bustard and the Lesser Florican.
As the Rajasthan Government argued that the Supreme Court order of April 19, 2021 was impeding the establishment of new Industries and Transmission Lines to support International projects, a Three-Judge Bench led by Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud stated, “We are conscious of the need for development and fulfilling International Commitments.”
The Centre’s Attorney General, KK Venugopal, told the Court that the Order was not practical due to probable safety hazards and expensive costs. He claimed that shortly after the decision to lay underground power cables, the Government formed a study team comprised of experts from various fields, which issued a report on July 23 identifying various challenges such as Technical Issues, Right of Way, Safety and Environmental Issues, and Commercial Factors.
The two Governments were also endorsed by regional groups of solar power providers and electricity developers, who stated that constructing underground cable connections would cost 55,000 Crores.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the GIB as Critically Endangered on its Red List of vulnerable species. The Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 also protects them.
