Latest news with #GreatIndianBustard
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- General
- Express Tribune
Great Indian Bustard shows recovery in Cholistan
Listen to article In a significant development for wildlife conservation in Pakistan, the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard, locally known as Bhakhar, has shown promising signs of population recovery in the Cholistan Desert, according to Punjab wildlife authorities. Wildlife experts estimate the global population of the Great Indian Bustard to be between 80 and 90, with approximately 30 to 35 believed to inhabit the Cholistan region of Pakistan. This fragile recovery is the result of enhanced conservation efforts, ongoing field monitoring, and the creation of a dedicated public wildlife reserve. 'This bird is now restricted to the Cholistan Desert in Pakistan and Rajasthan in India,' confirmed Wildlife Conservator Syed Rizwan Mehmood. He documented rare video footage and photographs of the species during a recent field survey. 'The sighting and documentation of its presence confirm its continued survival in Pakistan. It's a major breakthrough.' Bahawalpur Deputy Chief Wildlife Ranger Syed Ali Usman Bukhari emphasised the role of dedicated habitat protection in aiding the bird's recovery. 'A designated Public Wildlife Reserve has been established in Cholistan specifically to protect the Great Indian Bustard. Strengthened conservation measures have led to a gradual increase in the population of this native species,' he said. The Great Indian Bustard (ardeotis nigriceps) is listed as "critically endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), making it one of the most threatened bird species in South Asia. Once found in large numbers across the Indian subcontinent, the species is now confined to fragmented habitats in India and Pakistan due to habitat loss, hunting and human disturbance. Renowned for its distinctive appearance, the Great Indian Bustard is among the heaviest flying birds in the world. Males can weigh up to 15 kilograms, stand about one meter tall, and have a wingspan exceeding two meters. The bird is easily identified by its brown, white and black plumage and a prominent black patch on the neck. It lays only one egg per year, resulting in an extremely low breeding rate making every individual crucial to the survival of the species. Under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), all international trade of the species is strictly prohibited. Domestically, the bird enjoys legal protection, with all forms of hunting or trade banned. Unlike the more commonly targeted Houbara Bustard, which has faced significant pressure from hunting by foreign falconers, the Great Indian Bustard has largely been spared due to its rarity and the strict penalties imposed on violators. Conservationists remain cautiously optimistic. 'The progress we're seeing in Cholistan is encouraging, but the species remains on the brink,' said a wildlife official. 'We must maintain and expand protection efforts, raise awareness, and safeguard critical habitats if we are to prevent its extinction.'
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Govt may not extend ISTS charges waiver for solar and wind projects
The Union government is not planning to extend the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) charges waiver for solar and wind projects, according to a PTI report. This decision, as conveyed by a senior government official, marks a pivotal moment for the renewable energy sector, which had largely benefited from the waiver in transmitting clean electricity across state lines without incurring significant charges. The ISTS charges, essentially fees for using national grid infrastructure to move power between states, were previously waived to incentivise the growth of renewable energy. The non-extension means that projects commissioned after the deadline will now face these charges, potentially leading to a notable increase in power tariffs and raising concerns about the competitiveness of renewable energy against traditional sources like coal. However, in a move to mitigate the immediate impact on projects that missed the deadline due to unforeseen circumstances, the official said, "We will evaluate their situation on a case-by-case basis and accordingly decide to provide suitable relief." This suggests a more nuanced approach than a blanket withdrawal, offering a glimmer of hope for developers caught in commissioning delays. The decision comes despite strong appeals from industry stakeholders. Last month, the Electric Power Transmission Association (EPTA), an apex industry body, had urged the government to extend the ISTS charges waiver until March 2026. G.P. Upadhyay, Director General of EPTA, warned that investments totaling approximately ₹2 lakh crore (around $24 billion USD) across some 30 GW of clean energy projects could be jeopardised without such an extension. EPTA highlighted that many projects, spread across states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra, have faced delays due to reasons beyond the developers' control. These include challenges related to land availability, various local issues, and environmental concerns, notably the protection of the Great Indian Bustard in regions of Rajasthan and Gujarat, which has led to prolonged approvals and grid connectivity issues. Developers are now contemplating approaching the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) for solutions, which could further prolong commissioning timelines. The ISTS waiver has been a crucial policy tool, enabling renewable energy developers to bypass substantial transmission costs , thereby making green power more economically attractive. Its withdrawal is expected to recalibrate project economics, potentially increasing the cost of renewable power.
Mint
14-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Govt not mulling to extend ISTS charges waiver for solar, wind projects
New Delhi, Jul 14 (PTI) The government is not planning to extend the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) charges waiver for solar and wind projects, according to a senior government official. The deadline for announcing an extension on waiver on Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) charges for setting up and commissioning solar and wind projects ended on June 30, 2025. "We will not extend the waiver (for solar and wind projects)," an official told PTI in reply to a question on whether the government plans to extend the ISTS waiver. Replying to another query on the financial viability of projects which could not be commissioned by June this year, the official said, "We will evaluate their situation on a case-by-case basis and accordingly decide to provide suitable relief." The ISTS waiver helps renewable energy developers avoid significant charges that would have otherwise been incurred on moving electricity from the producing state to consumption centres. The Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) charges are fees levied for transmitting electricity across state lines in India. If the ISTS waiver is not extended, it will lead to a significant increase in tariffs and make power generated from renewable sources uncompetitive vis-a-vis other traditional sources like coal. Last month, apex industry body Electric Power Transmission Association (EPTA) urged the government to safeguard the viability of around 30 GW clean energy projects by extending the ISTS charges waiver till March 2026. Director General of EPTA G P Upadhyay had said that investments of about ₹ 2 lakh crore will be impacted if relief is not given to players in the form of an extension in the waiver. The capacity has been delayed due to reasons beyond power companies' control and they may move to CERC (Central Electricity Regulatory Commission) for solutions that may further delay in commissioning of these projects spread across states, such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, among others, he said. Renewable energy projects are facing various problems due to land availability, local issues and the Great Indian Bustard (found in Rajasthan and Gujarat), among others.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Govt not mulling to extend ISTS charges waiver for solar, wind projects
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The government is not planning to extend the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) charges waiver for solar and wind projects , according to a senior government deadline for announcing an extension on waiver on Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) charges for setting up and commissioning solar and wind projects ended on June 30, 2025."We will not extend the waiver (for solar and wind projects)," an official told PTI in reply to a question on whether the government plans to extend the ISTS to another query on the financial viability of projects which could not be commissioned by June this year, the official said, "We will evaluate their situation on a case-by-case basis and accordingly decide to provide suitable relief."The ISTS waiver helps renewable energy developers avoid significant charges that would have otherwise been incurred on moving electricity from the producing state to consumption Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) charges are fees levied for transmitting electricity across state lines in the ISTS waiver is not extended, it will lead to a significant increase in tariffs and make power generated from renewable sources uncompetitive vis-a-vis other traditional sources like month, apex industry body Electric Power Transmission Association (EPTA) urged the government to safeguard the viability of around 30 GW clean energy projects by extending the ISTS charges waiver till March General of EPTA G P Upadhyay had said that investments of about Rs 2 lakh crore will be impacted if relief is not given to players in the form of an extension in the capacity has been delayed due to reasons beyond power companies' control and they may move to CERC (Central Electricity Regulatory Commission) for solutions that may further delay in commissioning of these projects spread across states, such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, among others, he energy projects are facing various problems due to land availability, local issues and the Great Indian Bustard (found in Rajasthan and Gujarat), among others. PTI
The Hindu
14-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Why must India recognise its open ecosystems?
The story so far: Deserts are often imagined as failures of nature, and barren wastelands in need of redemption. This worldview fuels grand ambitions to 'green' the desert, through afforestation, irrigation schemes, or even climate engineering. This gives way to the idea that deserts are broken ecosystems. So pervasive is this vilification, that land degradation is also known as 'desertification', and June 17 every year is celebrated as World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. Are deserts important? In truth, deserts are ancient, diverse, and resilient biomes, finely tuned to extremes. They occupy nearly one-third of the Earth's terrestrial surface, and are home to uniquely adapted plants, animals, and human cultures. It is ironic that humans disregard deserts, when several early civilisations were set in desert climates, whether in early Mesopotamia, Egypt, or the Indus valley. Indeed, some historians argue that it is these very harsh desert conditions that prompted humans to develop complex societies and technologies that could invent ingenious ways of irrigation to survive in otherwise inhospitable conditions. What about other open spaces? India's relationship with open spaces is full of contradictions. On the one hand, we fetishise them. Real estate ads routinely promise sweeping lawns with names like Savana or Utopia. But when it comes to the country's own vast open natural ecosystems such as grasslands, savannas, scrublands and open woodlands, we have done the opposite. These landscapes have been systematically ignored in policy or worse, actively erased. On official maps, millions of hectares of these ecosystems are classified as wastelands, a term inherited from colonial land-use categories. In policy terms, a wasteland is land waiting to be fixed, often by planting trees, converting it for agriculture or paving it over for industry. What should be protected and stewarded has instead become a target for transformation. India's deserts, grasslands and savannas are home to species found nowhere else: the Great Indian Bustard, the caracal, the Indian wolf etc. These ecosystems also store carbon, not in big trees above ground but rather, deep in the soil. Equally important are the communities dependent on them. Millions of pastoral groups such as the Dhangar, Rabari, Kuruba etc. depend on these ecosystems for grazing. When we fence off grasslands or plant 'forests' on them, it's not just ecology we damage but also livelihoods, mobility, and local knowledge systems. In many cases, pastoralist groups are also stewards of biodiversity and ecosystem health. However, Indian grasslands and pastoralist systems have not received the desired protection and management. What should be the road ahead? Rather than trying to turn deserts into forests, we should study how life thrives without abundance. This is not to say that land degradation should not be addressed. Reversing degradation in drylands requires careful restoration that respects native vegetation, focuses on soil and moisture conservation, and draws from indigenous knowledge of land management. Low-tech solutions like water harvesting, rotational grazing, and protecting natural regrowth often outperform greenwashing projects that aim to plant millions of trees to 'green' the desert. We need policies that recognise ecosystem diversity, reward soil carbon storage, and support pastoralist land use. A functioning desert or savanna, with its intricate food webs, seasonal rhythms, and cultural continuities, is far more alive than a failed monoculture plantation. Perhaps it is time to rename World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought to World Day to Combat Land Degradation, and give deserts their respectable name back. The authors are with the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment.
