Nal Sarovar dries up during migratory season

AHMEDABAD: Every December, the air over the picturesque Nal Sarovar is usually pregnant with sounds of birds chirping and cheers of visitors overwhelmed by the sight of the beautiful winged creatures from faraway lands. But, this year has been unusual.
To the utter shock of nature lovers, ornithologists and the general tourist, Gujarat’s most famous bird sanctuary has dried up, a phenomena being seen after a decade and a half.The migratory birds have gone back, so have the dejected enthusiasts.
Though the lake normally dries up in March-April, this time, it has happened three months earlier, leaving behind a barren landscape across the 120 sq-km lake. Instead of the country boats that were used in the knee-deep water, visitors today drive through what was a lake just few months ago.
Known for some 250 varieties of birds, including 158 species of waterfowls, Nal Sarovar receives over two lakh winged visitors between September and February. Despite being the peak season for these migratory birds, the skyline looks barren as birds find no food, water or any form of activity on the parched land.
A majority of birds that come here are ducks, coots, pelicans, flamingos, which travel all the way from Central Asia and eastern and western Europe.
This extraordinary situation has forced the forest department to consider using Narmada water to fill the dried lake. "We have discussed the plan with the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam, which has agreed in principle. But the channel is 20 km short of the Nal Sarovar and we are exploring the possibilities," said chief conservator of forests (wildlife) Pradip Khanna.
Scanty rainfall is being blamed for the lake going dry. "Usually, Nal receives water from the catchment areas of Ahmedabad and Surendranagar districts. But this year, the catchment areas in Ahmedabad remained dry. We received some water only for a day or two from the areas upstream of Ranagadh and Gadhechi in Surendranagar," said a forest official.
The result was that the water level remained very low during the past five months — between 1.5 feet and 2 feet, instead of the usual postmonsoon level of above six feet. The lake, therefore, began drying up soon and a few weeks after Diwali, it went dry.
Tourists flock this sanctuary during this season to watch these birds, which number between 50,000 and one lakh. A dozen villages with over 35,000 population, located on its banks, survive only on tourism. But as there are no tourists this season, locals engaged in boating and running temporary eateries have lost their only source of income. There are ecological considerations bothering the forest department.
"To attract birds, the water level has to remain between two and three feet. Levels more than this will drive them away. Besides, the lake has to remain dry in April and May. It is, therefore, a matter of a couple of months and we are not unduly worried," he said.
Ornithologist Kandarp Katju stressed on the need to develop and maintain satellite water bodies. "We have been talking about developing and preserving other water bodies near Nal Sarovar so that birds have an alternative site. Bhaskarpura, 15-20 km from Nal, has become a haven for birds."
Two years ago, the state government had sanctioned Rs 10 lakh to develop an interpretation centre at Nal Sarovar which has never come up despite the funding.