The Girnar Ropeway project in Gujarat gets in-principle approval subject to six specific conditions. They include minimum disturbance for long-billed vulture i.e. Girnari Giddh habitat, cafeteria for vultures, increase in height of two towers along the ropeway and cess on ticket turn-over revenue for conservation related activities. The conditions are: 

I. The Government of Gujarat will conduct a study to consider alternate alignment of the ropeway project, preferably along the Datter /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: 

II. The height of the 9th and 10th tower of ropeway will be increased to avoid disturbance to the culture nesting sites located in this area: 

III. A camera of high resolution will be placed on the 9th tower to monitor movement of cultures and if required, movement of cabins of the ropeways will be regulated in such way as to avoid any accidental collision of cultures with the cabin of ropeway: 

IV. A cafeteria for vultures will be constructed at an appropriate location, to be decide in consultation with the experts, to provide for supplemental feed to the cultures apart from attempting to divert the movement of vultures away from the ropeway: 

V. A cess of Rs. 5 per ticket or 2% of the ticket turnover revenue, whichever is higher, will be imposed. This cess amount will be given to the Gir Lion Conservation Society for conservation-related activities in and around the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary with ea focus on long-billed vultures. 

VI. A technical monitoring group of officers from Gujarat Forest Department, local voluntary organisation concerned, BNHS, WWF and experts will be set up to advice on safety protocols and to monitor the implementation of the conditions governing the clearance of the ropeway project. 

(You need to login first to read complete news).
New User? Register for FREE!
» Back to Travel News