Lok Sabha Question No. 5 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-21
Subject: Comprehensive Ecological Assessment conducted by WII
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Dhairyasheel Sambhajirao Mane, Shri Sudheer Gupta, Shri Manish Jaiswal, Shri Chavan Ravindra Vasantrao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025

## Comprehensive Ecological Assessment conducted by WII

## 5. SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE:

SHRI CHAVAN RAVINDRA VASANTRAO: SHRI MANISH JAISWAL: SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  as  per  Comprehensive  Ecological  Assessment  conducted  by  the  Wildlife Institute  of  India  (WII)  and  published  in  a  scientific  reports  journal  that  the  wind turbines installed in Thar desert across 3000 square kilometre areas in the State of Rajasthan are responsible for an estimated 1359 bird deaths annually and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether mortality rate of birds in this region of the country is quite high as compared to other parts of the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has prepared a list of the birds which are worst hit by the turbine or windmills in this region and if so, the details thereof, species-wise;
- (d) whether many of these species are near threatened species and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken/being taken by the Government to protect these species; and
- (e) the details of other steps taken/being taken by the Government to make these turbines more visible to the birds and prevent death of the local and migratory birds?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a) to (e) The  protection  and  management  of  wildlife  is  the  primary  responsibility  of  the concerned  State  Governments/Union  Territory  Administrations.  The  Wild  Life (Protection)  Act,  1972  provides  for the  protection of  wild  animals including birds listed in schedule I and II of the Act. The important steps taken by the Ministry for protection of wildlife including bird species of the country include:
- (i) Protected Areas, viz., National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves  and  Community  Reserves  covering  important  wildlife  habitats have been created all over the country under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
- (ii) The Ministry has notified the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) rules, 2017, for better protection of wetlands in the country.
- (iii) Financial  assistance  is  provided  to  the  States/UTs  for  protection  and management of wildlife and development of its habitats under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme 'Development of Wildlife Habitat's per the annual plan of operations received from the States Governments/ UT Administrations.
- (iv) A  specific  component  of  'Recovery  programmes  for  saving  critically endangered  species  and  habitats'  is  included  in  the  ongoing  Centrally Sponsored  Scheme  of  'Development  of  Wildlife  Habitats'  for  focused conservation action on 24 identified critically endangered species including Bustards, Edible nest Swiftlets, Nicobar Megapode, Jerdon's Courser and Vultures.
- (v) The  Ministry  has  issued  guidelines  on  ecofriendly  measure  to  mitigate impacts of linear infrastructure on wildlife.
- (vi) Several steps have been taken to conserve the Great Indian Bustards (GIB) such  as  conservation  breeding,  restoration  and  scientific  management  of grasslands,  fire  prevention  measures,  installation  and  maintenance  of predator proof fencing, community engagement activities for GIB conservation etc. in different habitats including Rajasthan .
- (vii) An Action Plan for Vulture Conservation was launched by the Ministry in November, 2020.Eight Vulture Conservation Breeding Centres have been set up across India.

The State Governments/Union Territory Administrations and scientific institutions carry out different studies on wildlife, including impacts of various parameters, and on  basis  of  inferences,  necessary  actions  are  taken  up  by  the  concerned  State Governments /UT Administrations and authorities, as required. The Ministry has not commissioned any study to assess the region-wise mortality of birds, due to wind turbines.