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Centre approves limestone mining project near endangered Great Indian Bustard habitat

Centre approves limestone mining project near endangered Great Indian Bustard habitat

The Centre’s Expert Appraisal Committee approved a limestone mining project near the endangered Great Indian Bustard habitat in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The project lease spans more than 250 hectares and sits 1.77 kilometres away from a Great Indian Bustard priority area. The Wildlife Institute of India stated in a site assessment study that indirect impacts fall within the priority zone and proposed a focused conservation plan, noting that “mining operations and GIB conservation can coexist in this area.” The Wildlife Institute of India warned that mining activities could reduce grassland productivity, which the bird depends on. The appraisal committee also recently recommended terms of reference for UltraTech Cement Limited’s limestone mining project in Joga, spanning over 400 hectares, and a project by Star Cement North East Limited. The wild Great Indian Bustard population has dropped from between 1,260 and 1,400 birds in the early 1970s to only about 150 remaining today. Roughly 130 of these birds live in Rajasthan, while the rest survive across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, facing a high risk of local extinction. Readers can monitor further developments regarding environmental clearances and committee approvals for industrial projects near sensitive wildlife zones.

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The Tribune

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