One more battle lost.

The Hon’ble Minister for Environment & Forests have given yet another clearance, albeit a conditional clearance, as is the norm these days. This time, the decision is to allow construction of a ropeway project in Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary endangering the Vultures. What is surprising is the manner in which he has tried to justify it. Also, the conditions make for some interesting reading. He talks of creating a "cafeteria" for vultures, so that the vultures are fed and hence wont fly and get hit by the ropeway. What is he going to achieve? Tame the vultures? Is this conservation? Is this what the MoEF stands for?

Sharing the full text of the decision signed by Sri Jairam Ramesh.

Sabyasachi


Sub: Girnal Ropeway
1. The matter of construction of a ropeway from Bhavnath Taleti to Ambaji temple in the Girnar Wildife Sanctuary in Junagarh has been under consideration of the MoE&F for over a year. At my suggestion, a technical group of the Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) had visited this site on December 21-22, 2010. This two-person group advised against construction of a ropeway because it could lead to the local extinction of the “Girnari Giddh”, a critically endangered species listed in Schedule I under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. I have personally visited the site on January 27th, 2011. I have also had a detailed discussion on this project with BNHS, with the state government officials, with Dr. Divyabhanusinh Chavda and Dr. Nita Shah who conducted the site visit and have also met with local organizations and citizens in Junagarh.
2. Before indicating my final decision, I must place on record the following facts:
1. The ropeway project has been hanging fire since September 1995. But it is only after the declaration of the Girnar Reserve Forest as the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary in May 2008, that Central Government approval has been necessitated. Thus, for the period between 1995 and 2008, there was no need for any central Government approval had the state government decided to go ahead with the project;
2. The declaration of the Girnar Reserve Forest as Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary was a welcome step. This created a new habitat for the Gir lion and a population of 20-25 lions is now resident in the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary which covers about 180 sq. kms;
3. The Girnari Giddh population that is going to be affected by the ropeway project is between 20-25% of the population of long-billed vultures in Gujarat but less than 10% of the population of vultures in the State.
4. Although I have received numerous representations against the ropeway on environmental grounds (primarily the anticipated adverse impacts on vulture habitats), I have seen for myself the strong reasons to build the ropeway. It would minimize man-animal conflict in the Girnar wildlife Sanctuary (a new concern) and it would also provide a convenient way of transporting thousands of pilgrims daily to the holy spots on Mount Girnar. It would also put an end to socially unacceptable modes of transportation (the dolis) that are being used presently.
3. Appreciating the arguments can be made both for and against the ropeway project and based on consultations I have had with all stakeholders including Dr. Divyabhanusinh Chavda, Dr. Nita Shah and Dr. Asad Rehmani of the BNHS, I have decided on the following course of action:
1. In-principle approval is being granted for the ropeway project, subject to the following six specific conditions:
i. The Government of Gujarat will conduct a study to consider alternate alignment of the ropeway project, preferably along the Dattar/ Bhesan side with a view to ensure that it does not cut across the prime vulture habitat and minimizes disturbance to the nesting, roosting and ranging sites of long-billed vultures and other wildlife species and submit report within two months positively;
ii. The height of the 9th and 10th tower of ropeway will be increased to avoid disturbance to the vulture nesting sites located in this area;
iii. A camera of high resolution will be placed on the 9th tower to monitor movement of vultures and if required, movement of cabins of the ropeways will be regulated in such way as to avoid any accidental collision of vultures with the cabin of ropeway;
iv. A cafeteria for vultures will be constructed at an appropriate location, to be decided in consultation with the experts, to provide for supplemental feed to the vultures apart from attempting to divert the movement of vultures away from the ropeway;
v. A cess of Rs 5 per ticket or 2% of the ticket turnover revenue, whichever is higher, will be imposed. This cess amount will be given to the Gir Lion Conservation Society for conservation-related activities in and around the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary with a focus on long-billed vultures.
vi. A technical monitoring group of officers from Gujarat Forest Department, local voluntary organizations concerned, BNHS, WWF and experts will be set up to advise on safety protocols and to monitor the implementation of the conditions governing the clearance of the ropeway project.
2. According to the statutory procedure, the standing committee of the NBWL, will take the final decision based on the report submitted by the Government of Gujarat.

The link to the full text of the order is here: http://www.moef.nic.in/downloads/pub...ion/girnar.pdf