(IN) Gujarat: Ropeway project to temple put on hold to save vultures

October 28, 2009

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Ropeway project to temple put on hold to " save " vultures

PTI 27 October 2009, 05:52pm IST

NEW DELHI: The Centre has put on hold the proposed ropeway to Gujarat's

religious shrine atop Mount Girnar citing threat to the nesting of

endangered vultures in the region.

The Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife chaired by union

environment minister Jairarm Ramesh at a recent meeting has asked a team of

conservationists to visit the site and study the impact of the proposed project

before deciding its fate.

" Girnar wildlife sanctuary is the only known colony of long-billed vultures in

Gujarat. If the ropeway passes through the trees housing vulture nests, it will

be a disaster, " Asad Rehmani, a prominent conservationist from Bombay Natural

History Society (BNHS) and committee member, said.

He said 121 vultures (long-billed and white-beaked species vultures) were

counted in the region in 2005 which have declined to 79, according to the 2007

census.

He said the environment impact assessment report submitted by a private firm

Usha Breco Ltd seeking to construct the ropeway was not factually correct with

particular reference to faunal diversity of the area.

The committee also observed the project seeking diversion of around seven

hectares of Girnar forestland was yet to get environmental clearance.

However, the Gujarat Wildlife Department, strongly arguing in favour of the

project, said it would only ease the pressure on the wildlife created by

visiting devotees who currently pass through the jungle to reach the holy shrine

atop Girnar.

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Thank you for your compassion !

With best regards,

Debasis Chakrabarti

Compassionate Crusaders Trust

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