Ahmedabad: Gujarat government recently decided to pause a 25 MW solar power project proposed by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) near Gir National Park. This decision came after many environmentalists and wildlife lovers expressed worries about the impact on the habitat of the Asiatic lions, which are found only in this region.
A senior government official explained, “After looking closely at the project’s benefits and drawbacks, we have decided to put it on hold.” This official spoke anonymously. A forest department official noted that large solar projects are usually not allowed in sensitive wildlife areas, but this one was being considered as an exception.
The NTPC proposed a total of 200 MW of solar projects, with the 25 MW plan set for Ghodasan village, which is part of the corridor connecting Gir to Girnar. The other 175 MW was planned for areas outside the lion habitat. Approval from the forest department has been delayed, leading NTPC to think about moving the 25 MW project to another location.
Initially, NTPC wanted to build a 60 MW project in the eco-sensitive zone around Gir, asking for 125 hectares of land. However, due to opposition from wildlife experts, they reduced the plan to 25 MW, which now would use around 40 hectares. An NTPC official chose not to comment on this situation.
The government has released draft guidelines to better protect the environment near the lion sanctuary, but some critics say that the government is also pushing for big commercial projects in these same areas. Political leaders have accused the state of being unfair, applying strict environmental rules to regular people while allowing companies to bypass them.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Pravin Ram pointed out the inconsistency during a rally, asking how the government can prioritize environmental protection while allowing this solar project to move forward in a place where commercial activities were banned since 2011.
Wildlife experts and photographers, including Bhushan Pandya, have also reached out to the government, highlighting the importance of keeping wildlife corridors safe. He stated that the forest department had previously raised concerns about this project two times.
Parimal Nathwani, a member of the Rajya Sabha, shared concerns on social media that the solar project could block the movement of Asiatic lions and is calling on both the state and central governments to stop it. Environmentalists warn that projects like this can disturb habitats crucial for the lions, who already face challenges from habitat loss.
The population of Asiatic lions has grown from 523 in 2015 to 674 in 2020, according to the last census. But only about 300–325 lions live in the 1,412 sq km Gir sanctuary; the rest depend on surrounding areas for survival.
Two wildlife experts, Jalpan Rupapara and Purvesh Kacha, who have over 20 years of experience in lion conservation, stated that big solar projects can harm the habitat. They pointed out that clearing land for these projects can hurt both plant and animal life, causing more conflict between humans and wildlife.
In August, local authorities even demolished illegal solar panels that had been placed in the eco-sensitive area without the necessary permissions. These panels occupied more than 419,000 square meters of land.
According to government rules, small renewable energy projects can be approved in eco-sensitive zones for local communities, but larger projects are closely watched due to their environmental impact. In the last six months, at least three big solar projects in the area have been put on hold
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