N-plant buffers to turn into bird sanctuaries

MUMBAI: Can a nuclear power plant be a bird sanctuary? ‘Yes’, says the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL). Its endeavour to afforest exclusion zones at seven nuclear plants, where no human habitation is allowed, and has scientifically enriched plantation is also attracting over 160 species of birds and animals.

The NPCIL has come out with a 235-page-coffee-table book depicting the rich biodiversity in these sanctuaries. “As NPCIL’s plants are located nationwide, the book ‘Our Flying Guests’ released under the Environment Stewardship Programme (ESP) showcases diversity of birds in India, both local and migratory,” J Devaprakash, one of the authors said on Friday on the eve of World Environment Day.

Not only birds, but the entire ecosystem is intricately interdependent on each other in these exclusion zones of 1.6 km radius in each of the nuclear plant sites, he said. The book with colourful illustrations of birds was conceptualised researched and produced by the late A I Siddiqui, DGM corporate communication and J Devaprakash, deputy manager (Mass Media)of NPCIL.