The 50-MW demonstration wind farm proposed at Dhanushkodi, Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu) by the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) under MNRE has raised concerns of ecological disturbance to turtle nesting and fish breeding zones.

• The site lies near the newly notified Greater Flamingo Sanctuary and falls within Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) categories IB, II, and IVA, making it a highly sensitive coastal stretch.

About Greater Flamingo Sanctuary, Dhanushkodi

• Type/Nature: Protected bird sanctuary notified in 2024 by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, situated near Dhanushkodi where the Palk Bay meets the Gulf of Mannar.
• Key Features: A seasonal coastal wetland that hosts Greater Flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) and several migratory bird species from December to March.
• Ecological Role: Functions as a key feeding and roosting ground for flamingos, turtles, and shorebirds; contains seagrass meadows, mudflats, coral fragments, and shallow lagoons crucial for marine biodiversity.
  
• Legal Protection: Declared under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, restricting any industrial or construction activity within the sanctuary and its eco-sensitive zone (ESZ).
• Management & Oversight: Managed by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, with project monitoring and compliance overseen by the District and State Coastal Zone Management Authorities (DCZMA, SCZMA).

Check Out UPSC CSE Books

Visit PW Store

About the Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)

• Overview: It is the largest flamingo species, reaching up to 150 cm in height; distributed across Africa, West Asia, and South Asia.
• Habitat & Migration: A migratory species that frequents major Indian wetlands such as the Rann of Kutch, Pulicat Lake, Chilika Lagoon, and Point Calimere.
• Diet & Colouration: Feeds on algae, crustaceans, and plankton; its distinctive pink colour arises from carotenoid pigments in its diet.
• Breeding: Builds mud-cone nests in shallow lagoons; breeding colonies are highly sensitive to human disturbance.
• Conservation: Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List but accorded legal protection under Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972).

DOWNLOAD PDF