In Rajasthan, the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) is fondly known by its cultural name, “Godawan,” and holds
deep ecological as well as cultural significance for desert communities. Recognized as one of the
heaviest flying birds in the world, the GIB is a flagship species of the arid and semi-arid grasslands of the
Indian subcontinent. A long-term study undertaken by the Wildlife Institute of India (2015–2020), in
association with the Rajasthan Pollution Control Board and the National CAMPA Advisory Council,
identified power lines, mining activities, free-ranging predators, and pesticide prevalence as major
factors contributing to the rapid decline of the species. Further, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change, in its submission to the National Green Tribunal in 2019 (File No. 1-16/2019 WL),
highlighted that overhead power lines, particularly high-voltage transmission lines (33–440 kV) with
vertical alignment, currently pose the most significant threat to the survival of the GIB.
The Hon’ble Supreme Court, through its interim order dated 19.04.2021, imposed restrictions on the
installation of overhead transmission lines across nearly 99,000 sq. km identified as critical habitat of the
Great Indian Bustard (GIB). The Court directed that, wherever technically feasible, existing overhead
lines should be converted into underground systems within one year. However, in its subsequent order
dated 21.03.2024, the Court modified the earlier directions, observing that a blanket restriction on
transmission infrastructure for renewable energy projects lacked sufficient scientific justification. The
Court recognized that the decline of the GIB population is driven by multiple factors, including habitat
fragmentation, degradation, low reproductive rate, predation, and reduced prey availability, and noted
that undergrounding of power lines alone would not ensure species conservation.
The Expert Committee constituted by the Supreme Court submitted its report on 03.09.2024 for
Rajasthan, highlighting the vulnerability of the GIB (“Godawan”) due to hunting pressure, agricultural
expansion, and energy infrastructure development. The Committee recommended habitat restoration,
predator management, grassland improvement, community participation, and climate resilience studies
by the Wildlife Institute of India. It also proposed restrictions on new power lines, wind turbines, and
large solar projects within revised priority areas. Accepting these recommendations, the Supreme Court,
by judgment dated 19.12.2025, approved a revised priority area of 14,013 sq. km in Rajasthan and
directed immediate implementation of mitigation measures, including undergrounding and rerouting of
transmission lines within two years. The Court further clarified that mining activities remain regulated
under existing environmental and mining laws, emphasizing that all regulatory decisions must safeguard
the ecological integrity and conservation of the GIB.
Considering the above facts and findings of various studies and expert committees, it may be inferred
that the major threats contributing to the mortality and decline of the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) are
overhead transmission lines, mining activities, free-ranging predators, and habitat degradation,
particularly within the identified priority areas. To date, no institutional research study, Expert
Committee recommendation, or representation by environmental groups has specifically identified the
operation of cement plants as a direct threat to the survival or existence of the GIB.
At the same time, developmental activities remain essential for a developing nation like India,
particularly in the context of strengthening domestic industrial capacity and reducing dependence on
foreign imports. Therefore, it is important to adopt a balanced and sustainable approach wherein
economic development and GIB conservation are pursued simultaneously. With the implementation of
appropriate mitigation measures, scientific environmental management practices, habitat conservation
initiatives, and strict regulatory compliance, Cement Plant operation and conservation of the GIB can
coexist in a sustainable manner.