Central Enviornment and Forest ministry today granted ‘in-principle’ approval to Gujarat’s proposed Girnar rope-way project.

While this is not final approval, and just ‘in-principal’ approval, it interesting to note that the doccument granting ‘in-principal’ approval clearly states: “In-principal approval is being granted for the ropeway project, subject to the six specific conditions.”

The first and the most important condition that the central ministry has put while granting ‘in-principal’ approval is that, the government of Gujarat will have to 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.

This means, the final approval will be granted after the state government submits this report. It can take two months or even more. So the ball is now in state government’s court again. Read this sentence in the letter of ‘in-principal’ approval issued by the ministry:”As per the statutory procedure, the Standing Committee of the NBWL will take the final decision based on the report submitted by the Government of Gujarat“.

Now coming to second condition, that states: 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;

Third condition is: 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 ropeway will be regulated in such way as to avoid any accidental collision of vultures with the cabin of ropeway;

The ministry has also put a condition that 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;

In another condition, the ministry has asked the state government to impose a cess of Rs. 5 per ticket or 2% of the ticket turnover revenue, whichever is higher. 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.

The last condition is about formation of a technical monitoring group of officers from Gujarat Forest Department, local voluntary organizations concerned, BNHS, WWF and experts to advise on safety protocols and to monitor the implementation of the conditions governing the clearance of the ropeway project.

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