AHMEDABAD: Nalsarovar, Gujarat‘s first Ramsar site, is hoping to witness a good season for migratory birds this year. Birds began arriving by mid-December and are still sheltering at nearby lakes.
After around seven feet after monsoon, the water in the lake is currently about four feet deep, a level quite conducive for local and migratory birds. The level will deplete further by mid-January, attracting flamingos and painted storks among other birds.
Forest department officials said maintaining this water level was possible through constant monitoring by Nalsarovar staff and controlling excess inflow of Narmada water into the lake.
They added that the department had pressed the panic button after the lake faced an infestation of emergent aquatic weeds, which sprouted above water, causing the open water surface to shrink alarmingly. This, according to the officials, was caused by the constant flow of Narmada water which was hampering the lake’s salinity level and even changing its nature from a freshwater to a manmade lake.
A senior officer said, “Staff members regularly visit villages situated on the outskirts of the lake including Nani Katechi, Parali, Vadla, Ranagadh, Mulbavla to keep a check on the release of Narmada water and ensure that excess water does not flow into the lake.
“If the staff notices water flowing in the lake, they immediately take up the issue with local officials of Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam (SSNL) and get the supply halted. They also ensure that even Vadla has only half a foot of water as any excess water here flows in Nalsarovar,” said the senior officer.
The department has also written to SSNL authorities asking them to check the release of water into areas around Nalsarovar, besides asking local village panchayats to have water released only as per requirement.
After around seven feet after monsoon, the water in the lake is currently about four feet deep, a level quite conducive for local and migratory birds. The level will deplete further by mid-January, attracting flamingos and painted storks among other birds.
Forest department officials said maintaining this water level was possible through constant monitoring by Nalsarovar staff and controlling excess inflow of Narmada water into the lake.
They added that the department had pressed the panic button after the lake faced an infestation of emergent aquatic weeds, which sprouted above water, causing the open water surface to shrink alarmingly. This, according to the officials, was caused by the constant flow of Narmada water which was hampering the lake’s salinity level and even changing its nature from a freshwater to a manmade lake.
A senior officer said, “Staff members regularly visit villages situated on the outskirts of the lake including Nani Katechi, Parali, Vadla, Ranagadh, Mulbavla to keep a check on the release of Narmada water and ensure that excess water does not flow into the lake.
“If the staff notices water flowing in the lake, they immediately take up the issue with local officials of Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam (SSNL) and get the supply halted. They also ensure that even Vadla has only half a foot of water as any excess water here flows in Nalsarovar,” said the senior officer.
The department has also written to SSNL authorities asking them to check the release of water into areas around Nalsarovar, besides asking local village panchayats to have water released only as per requirement.