The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has issued draft central Electricity authority regulations, 2023. According to draft all electric lines of 33 kV and below passing through the area will be undegrounded.

Correct option is A

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) issued draft regulations in 2023 requiring all electric lines of 33 kV and below passing through certain areas to be undergrounded, specifically targeting regions where the Great Indian Bustard (Son Chiraya) resides.

Explanation:
● The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) is critically endangered, with a global population of fewer than 150 individuals, primarily found in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
● One of the leading threats to its survival is electrocution and collisions with high-tension power lines in its habitat.
● The CEA regulations aim to eliminate this hazard by mandating undergrounding of power lines in areas where the GIB population exists.
● The GIB’s size and poor frontal vision make it highly vulnerable to power line collisions, which have caused significant mortality over the years.
● This move aligns with India’s efforts under Project Great Indian Bustard to conserve and restore the species' population.

Information Booster:
● The Great Indian Bustard is listed as Critically Endangered under the IUCN Red List and is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
● It is primarily found in the grasslands of Desert National Park (Rajasthan) and parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh.
● Conservation initiatives include:

• Bird diverters on power lines to make them visible.
• Captive breeding programs to boost population recovery.
• Habitat restoration and community awareness campaigns.
  ● Grassland conservation is crucial as these habitats support multiple endangered species.