Great Indian Bustards
Context
- Historically, the great Indian bustard was distributed throughout Western India, spanning 11 states, as well as parts of Pakistan. Its stronghold was once the Thar desert in the north-west and the Deccan plateau of the peninsula.
- Today, its population is confined mostly to Rajasthan and Gujarat. Small population occur in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Bustards generally favour flat open landscapes with minimal visual obstruction and disturbance, therefore adapt well in grasslands.
- In the non-breeding season they frequent wide agro-grass scrub landscapes. While in the breeding season (summers and monsoons) they congregate in traditional undisturbed grassland patches characterized by a mosaic of scantily grazed tall grass (below 50 cm). They avoid grasses taller than themselves and dense scrub like thickets.
Status
- Listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection)Act, 1972,
- In the CMS Convention and in Appendix I of CITES
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): Appendix1
- As Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and the National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016).
- It has also been identified as one of the species for the recovery programme under the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.
- It is a state bird of Rajasthan. Its population of about 150 in Rajasthan accounts for 95% of its total world population.
Threat
- According to scientists, the GIBs are slow breeders and they build their nests on the ground. The biggest threat to this species is hunting, which is still prevalent in Pakistan. This is followed by occasional poaching outside Protected Areas, collisions with high tension electric wires, fast moving vehicles and free-ranging dogs in villages.
- Other threats include habitat loss and alteration as a result of widespread agricultural expansion and mechanized farming, infrastructural development such as irrigation, roads, electric poles, as well as mining and industrialization.
Efforts
- Supreme Court had asked the Government, whether a focussed approach, something like Project Tiger, can be taken up for saving the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB).
- Species Recovery Programme:
- It is kept under the species recovery programme under the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
- National Bustard Recovery Plans
- MoEF&CC, Rajasthan government and Wildlife Institute of India (WII) have also established a conservation breeding facility in Desert National Park at Jaisalmer in June 2019.
- Project Great Indian Bustard: It has been launched by the Rajasthan government with an aim of constructing breeding enclosures for the species and developing infrastructure to reduce human pressure on its habitats.
Wind Energy in India
Context
India is the 3rd largest energy consuming country in the world. India stands 4th globally in Renewable Energy Installed Capacity (including Large Hydro), 4th in Wind Power capacity & 4th in Solar Power capacity. MNRE has set the target of 500 GW renewable energy capacity by 2030, which includes the installation of 280 GW of solar power and 140 GW of wind power.
Up to 100% FDI is allowed under the automatic route for renewable energy generation and distribution projects subject to provisions of The Electricity Act 2003.
| As of July 2023, Renewable energy sources, including large hydropower, have a combined installed capacity of 179.322 GW.
The following is the installed capacity for Renewables:
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The largest wind power market in the world is China, with a capacity of over 237 GW of wind power installed followed by U.S and Germany.
Off-shore Wind Energy: The medium and long-term targets for off-shore wind power capacity additions are 5 GW by 2022 and 30 GW by 2030.
Initiatives taken for Wind Energy
- National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy: The main objective of the National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy, 2018 is to provide a framework for promotion of large grid connected wind-solar PV hybrid systems for optimal and efficient utilization of wind and solar resources, transmission infrastructure and land.
- National Offshore Wind Energy Policy: The National Offshore wind energy policy was notified in October 2015 with an objective to develop the offshore wind energy in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) along the Indian coastline of 7600 km.
India has similar geologic history to parts of South Africa, Australia
Researches examined volcanic and sedimentary rocks from the Daitari greenstone belt in the Singhbhum Craton in east India that were formed approximately 3.5 billion years ago. Cratons are pieces of ancient continents that formed several billions of years ago.
The Daitari greenstone belt shares a similar geologic make-up when compared to the greenstones exposed in the Barberton and Nondweni areas of South Africa and those from the Pilbara Craton of north-western Australia.