Proposed Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary occupies not only an important place among the GIB habitats in the state of Madhya Pradesh but also has a significant place among the GIB habitats of the country. Impacts can impinge on the habitat quality and interfere with the existing population and breeding of GIB in this proposed sanctuary. This in turn would have serious impacts on GIB's distributional range which is already facing reduction. Mukherjee (1973) estimated the bustards to occupy only 1.7 % of its former range.

The construction phase of the HSJ pipeline upgradation project is likely to have several impacts on this bird and its habitat.

4.1.1 Primary Impacts

1. As is evident even from Fig.3.0, the entire length of proposed route of the pipeline is aligned through the scrubland area in Pohri. This habitat which is already impacted by the disturbances associated with livestock grazing and tendu leaf collection will now be further exposed to added disturbances following the implementation of the project. Clearing and diversion of an area of scrubland on each side of the trench which would together make a 30 meter wide strip, would certainly reduce the available habitat for bustards in the area.

2. Construction of the trench and transportation and storage of material and equipment for the project will temporarily disrupt the movement of bustards in this important habitat area for the birds.

3. Most of the sightings of the bustards are reported from areas around Uncha Sarod, Marora and Naraiyakheri villages. These areas lie within the distance of 3- 7 km from the proposed route of the pipeline. Observations on the migratory movements of birds suggest that the bustards can easily cover long distances during migration. The construction phase activities will certainly restrict the migration of birds.

4. The bustards need large scrubland/grassland areas which should provide undisturbed locations for nesting. The coincidence of nesting time (March to August) with construction phase will greatly disturb the nesting of GIS in Pohri and may lead to a reduction in the existing number of active nesting sites in the area.

5. Accidental trampling of eggs by livestock and their destruction during tendu leaf collection are already telling on the population trends in this area. Construction phase activities would offer a yet another possibility of egg destruction.

6. The project activities would also cause disturbance to fledglings which usually emerge out during the period between August and October