NGT Orders to Install Bird Diverters on Power Lines to Protect GIBs

Finally, in the consent of losing GIBs in collisions with power lines, the National Green Tribunal-NGT has come up with a decision and directed the installation of “bird diverters” on power lines especially in Gujarat and Rajasthan on a priority basis in order to protect the most critically endangered species i.e. Great Indian Bustard (GIB).

The decision has been taken by the Principal Bench of National Green Tribunal. The decision has been taken in wake of GIBs steady decline in the last 3 decades. The main reason behind such a decline is fatal collisions with the power transmission lines.

Supreme Court of India has already taken cognizance on the matter. It has been said that the power line structures that are already completed cannot be underground, so they have to install Bird Diverters on them and also mentioned that all future projects to be put underground. Court has ordered the plan for the conservation of endangered species to be proposing within two months.

Bird Diverter will help in avoiding avian accidents with power line wires, as it is a device that makes transmission lines look bigger so that the birds flying near it can see them from a great distance.

In bird diverters, there are many variants and one of them is LED Bird Diverter, LED light feature makes it easily visible even during the day, night and foggy weather as well. This diverter has got the advantage and can work day and night with the same effectiveness.

Hope the Forest and Environment Ministry will take strict action and ask power generation companies to install bird diverters in all sensitive areas.