Context :
SC
considers lifting ban on transmission lines through GIB habitats ..
HT … 20 Mar 2024
Extract :
The Supreme Court on
Tuesday mulled lifting the total ban against the installation of overhead transmission
lines across 80,688 square kilometres in Gujarat and Rajasthan, asking the Union
government to define priority habitat areas for the conservation of the
critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB).
Inclined to review
its April 2021 order, a bench led by
Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud asked the Centre to come back
on Wednesday with modalities on mapping out critical habitat areas where
overhead transmission lines should be completely banned whereas rest of the
80,688 square kilometres could be freed of the restriction.
“We are not
justified in putting an embargo on entire 88,000 odd square kilometres. What we
will do here will affect the country’s power generation... You are right that we
cannot afford to have GIBs become extinct. At the same time, increasing solar power
capacity is equally important because it must come from somewhere. If we don’t enhance the
capacity of solar power, we will have to rely on coal based thermal power
plants,” the bench, also comprising justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra
observed.
GIB, with a wingspan of approximately
seven feet and a height of approximately one metre, is among the heaviest
flying birds in the world. With the exception of several areas of Rajasthan and
Gujarat, 90% of its habitat has vanished. Due to their lack of frontal
vision, birds are unable to see powerlines in front of them from a distance and
are too heavy to move around them in close quarters. The bird is listed as
critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN) in its Red List of threatened species. They are also protected under the
Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. It is believed that there are less than a 100 of the species
surviving.
Wondering whether a court could pass
an order in 2021 directing that all power lines passing through the identified
GIB habitats in Rajasthan and Gujarat go underground, the bench on Tuesday
observed that experts could be
drafted to mark the areas based on the movement of GIBs and pertinent
scientific studies.
My Take :
Ø Where there is a Will, there are Two Ways ..
……………………….16 June 2021
Extract :
I
am no “ technical expert “
But
I urge those technical experts to consider feasibility of the following
solutions :
===================================================
WAY # 1 :
Flock Dynamics ………………………[ 04 Sept 2018 ]
Extract :
Scientists have developed an algorithm that enables a
flying drone to herd a flock of birds
away from a
The
team developed the herding
algorithm on the basis
of macroscopic properties of the flocking model and
the
“We
made careful observations of flock dynamics and interactions between flocks and the
pursuer.
This allowed us to create a new herding algorithm for ideal flight paths for incoming drones to move the flock away from a protected airspace,” said Shim.
“This algorithm will help improve
safety for the aviation industry. In addition, this will also help control
avian
Related Literature :
Robotic Drones can herd birds away from
airspaces
http://www.caltech.edu/news/engineers-taught-drone-herd-birds-away-airports-82933
with regards,
hemen Parekh
www.HemenParekh.ai /
30 March 2024
Related Readings :
For Bustards : Court of Last Resort ?
…………. 14 Dec 2021
Comments by GEMINI
:
Yes, there has been some further development on the concept of herding algorithms in
the past 3 years that could reinforce the viability of your suggestion for diverting Great Indian Bustards (GIBs) away
from high voltage transmission lines. Here's what I found:
·
Advancements in drone technology:
Drones are
becoming more sophisticated and maneuverable, making them better suited for the delicate task of
herding birds.
·
Improved flock simulation models:
Researchers are
developing more complex
flock simulation models that can better predict bird behavior and allow for
more refined herding algorithms.
·
Integration with AI:
Artificial
intelligence (AI) is being integrated into drone-based herding systems, allowing for
real-time decision-making and adaptation to changing bird behaviour.
These advancements suggest that herding algorithms could be a more viable option for
diverting GIBs from power lines than it was 2 years ago.
However, there are still challenges that need to be addressed:
·
Safety of birds: The herding process must be conducted carefully to avoid stressing or
injuring the birds.
·
Long-term effectiveness: It's unclear how long-term the effects of herding would be. Birds
might habituate to the drones over time.
·
Cost-effectiveness: Implementing a large-scale herding program could be expensive.
Overall, while there are promising developments, more research is
needed to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of using herding
algorithms for GIB conservation.
Here are some suggestions to reinforce your argument:
·
Conduct a literature search for recent research papers on drone-based
herding algorithms specifically for bird conservation.
·
Cite credible sources to support your claims about the advancements in
drone technology and flock simulation models.
·
Acknowledge the challenges associated with herding algorithms and propose
potential solutions or mitigation strategies.
·
Emphasize the urgency of finding a solution to protect GIBs from power
lines and suggest that
herding algorithms could be a part of a comprehensive conservation strategy.
By incorporating this information, you can
strengthen your argument for using herding algorithms as a potential solution
for protecting Great Indian Bustards.
