Jairam clears Gujarat ropeway project with vulture rider

08-02-2011
Jairam clears Gujarat ropeway project with vulture rider
Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Jairam-clears-Gujarat-ropeway-project-with-vulture-rider/articleshow/7449442.cms

Union minister for environment and forests (MoEF) Jairam Ramesh approved the Girnar ropeway project proposing a roundabout route to reach the Ambaji temple on Girnar mountain, the highest point in Gujarat.

Ramesh allowed the project on the condition that the state government will explore an alternate route for cable cars to reach the top from Bhavnath Taleti near Junagadh town, skirting vulture nesting sites. Environment activists had been opposing the project because it would disturb the nesting of the endangered Girnari giddh (vultures).

The Gujarat government would have to set up a 'vulture cafeteria', a feeding site for vultures on one section of the mountain, Ramesh said. So, municipal authorities would have to dump animal carcasses here for vultures to feed.

Girnar, located close to the Asiatic lion habitat in Gir forest, was declared a sanctuary in 2008.