Conservation of the Great Indian Bustard has been very seriously compromised in its entire range and there are very few sites where breeding population are seen. Kerala Wildlife Sanctuary (Shivpuri district) which was set up essentially for the conservation of GIB and which achieved notable conservation success has lately been adversely affected due to phenomenal increase in the population of the black buck. Ghatigaon Sanctuary (Gwalior district) which was also set up for the conservation of the GIB is a small area with its own management problems due to the pressure from the nearby villages. On the other hand, as established by a recent status survey carried out by the Bombay Natural History Society, the proposed Pohri Wildlife Sanctuary has tremendous potential for conservation of the GIB. Even without the sanctuary status the area has a breeding population.

The State Government has already taken action for the notification of this sanctuary and this assessment has to take this fact in to account. The views of the Chief Wildlife Warden, MP has been taken on this subject matter and it has been suggested in the joint meeting with them that after taking due precautions to ensure the breeding and rearing success of the GIB population groups seen in this proposed sanctuary, the pipeline can be allowed to traverse along the route proposed by GAIL. Three breeding sites observed in a total area of 500 hectares. Disturbances during the breeding season can lead to breeding failure (Manakadan and Rahamani 1986) and ongoing disturbance in the rearing season can undermine the rearing success of chicks. March to August is therefore a crucial period during which the bird will have to be afforded not only protection but also a proper habitat for breeding and rearing.

The only way such protection can be offered is by fencing the breeding area during March to August. However, since these area are used for villagers for livestock grazing, some arrangements for sharing of resources by the villagers will have to be worked out. If the areas are fenced during summer and early monsoon period these will naturally have very good grasses which the villagers can use after August according to their needs for cut fodder or range grazing. This would imply that while the fences would be permanent, a couple of openings will be provided which can be opened once the early chick period is over towards the end of August.

However, because early monsoon is an important grazing time for the villagers it will be difficult for them to agree for such outright closure and therefore some compensatory measures for the villagers will also be necessary. An optimum and pragmatic package which has been discussed with the Chief Wildlife Warden, the Director of Madhav National Park, Shivpuri and the Superintendent of the Kerara GIB Sanctuary is to develop a joint fodder management programme between the department and the villagers according to which the villagers will form user groups and would take responsibility fro grazing closure from May to August. In compensation, private field from these villagers will be hired to raise green fodder during late summer and early monsoon which can be distributed among the user groups, provided the villages formally enter into an arrangement to keep the livestock out of the closed area in the same manner as provided in the scheme of joint forest management. It is estimated that a total of 10 hectare of such fodder farm will be necessary annually. A corpus fund of Rs. 10.00 lakhs can be entrusted to the Committee if user groups in joint administration with the Sanctuary Administration for upkeep. The recurring cost for such fodder farm is estimated at Rs. 5,000/- per acre per year and the operation can be sustained from the interest which will accrue from the corpus fund. In addition, of course, the fencing cost on 500 hectares will be payable to the State Forest Department as a capital outlay. It has been ascertained from the state wildlife authorities that they will be able to maintain the fence at their own cost. The total estimated cost of fencing of GI woven wire mesh (mesh size 100mm x 100mm x 10 swg) on the fencing of 500 hectares in three to five blocks will be Rs. 32.50 lakh. If protection is required to be provided over larger areas within the sanctuary, instead of only woven wire fence a combination of such fence and dry rubble cattle proof wall can be used. The cost towards the construction of all such enclosure can still be met from the estimates given above.

The following are the other recommendations to ensure protection to GIB in Pohri:

1. No project related developmental activities should be initiated in the proposed Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary at Pohri during the breeding period of the bird i.e. from March to August.

2. The two and a half month period after August is also a crucial period for the young fledgling. Transport of equipment/material on construction site during this period might obstruct their movements and should therefore be avoided.

3. The pipeline in this segment of the entire stretch should be laid during the period from October to February.

4. The State Forest Department will be compensated by Rs. 32.50 lakh to cover the cost on fencing of 500 hectares of breeding area in three to five blocks.

5. The State Forest Department will be paid an additional sum of Rs. 10.00 lakh to establish a joint corpus fund with the villagers for raising fodder plantation on private farms. To facilitate this, the Forest Department will enter into a joint management package of the fenced area and sharing of fodder among the villagers.

6. Existing network on PWD roads and dirt roads should be used for transporting equipment and material and no new roads should be constructed unless unavoidable. This will only ensure protection to the area which otherwise would become open to disturbance with increased access routes.

7. As far as possible the use of open scrubland within the area should be avoided for construction of storage sheds. Certain sites well outside these scrublands should be selected in close proximity of the villages for these sheds.

8. Camp sites for staff and labour for project should be located in the habitation areas in the villages of Kaprana, Bilbara and Aithwara. This will minimise the disturbances likely to result from the additional establishment of labour camps in the scrubland or forests.

9. To avoid influx of people from areas outside the project site and subsequent disturbance from this influx, as for as possible local people should be employed for the construction of the pipeline.

10. Sectionalising valves, intermediate pegging stations and radio repeater stations should be located outside the boundary of the proposed sanctuary to avoid disturbance from construction, monitoring and maintenance operations.