The arrival of winter brings travellers from Gujarat and around the world to Nal Sarovar to watch migratory birds like flamingos, pelicans, white storks, and Siberian cranes.

The government of Gujarat and its tourism department are also busy promoting ecotourism in the state.

However, the halted services of  boating at Nal Sarovar has curbed the employment opportunities for people of over 15 surrounding villages.

The boating was stopped at the lake after the Harni boat tragedy in Vadodara, taking away earning opportunities from people of Viramgam, Limbdi, Bavla, and other places. The people from surrounding villages depended on boating and food stalls at the lake for their earning.

With no boats operating in the lake, the students, birdwatchers, and tourists have been unable to get up close with the birds. 

Villagers reportedly claimed that since for the most part, the lake has shallow waters, so stopping the boating activities in te name of safety does not make sense.

The villagers demand a clearer guideline from the government and tourism department to clear the employment issues faced by the villagers.

Last year, 3.20 lakh migratory birds of 140 species arrived at Nal Sarovar, which is spread over the circumference of over 120 km. In the same duration, 61,000 tourists visited the lake.

Also read:

Who is to blame in the Harni Lake tragedy that took so many lives?