The right to life would not have been fully effective without a clean environment unaffected by the vagaries of climate change, the Supreme Court has said while setting up a committee to suggest measures to strike a balance between conservation of endangered bird Sonchiriya (Great Indian Bustard) and renewable energy infrastructure in Rajasthan and Gujarat. The top court recalled its earlier order of April, 2021 under which overhead transmission lines were to be laid underground in an area of more than 80 thousand square kilometres in the two states.
A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said the order for undergrounding of high-voltage and low-voltage power lines needs fresh consideration. is. “Climate change can affect the constitutional guarantee of right to equality. The right to life is not fully realized without a clean environment that is stable and unaffected by the vagaries of climate change. The right to health (which is part of the right to life under Article 21) is affected by factors such as air pollution, changes in vector-borne diseases (communicable diseases), rising temperatures, droughts, reduced food supply due to crop failure, storms and floods.’
The Great Indian Bustard is particularly found in Rajasthan and Gujarat and the alarming decline in their numbers is due to their frequent collisions with overhead transmission lines, including solar power plants, near their habitat.
The top court said lack of reliable power supply for many citizens not only impedes economic growth but also adversely affects communities, including women and low-income families, leading to further inequalities. The bench, in its March 21 order, had asked for the constitution of an expert committee. The committee will also have to work in the area of installation of transmission lines to facilitate solar power generation.
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