The huge wetland of Chharidhandh – known for its Flamingo city and habitation of lakhs of migratory birds in winters – has been upgraded status of ‘Conservation Reserve’ by Gujarat government recently. Chhari Dhand is transfered from revenue department to the Forest department. It is right step in the direction of making Kutch an international destination for tourists. Government notification for upgrading the status said “given its ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological, natural, and zoological significance, the aim of declaring Chharidhandh a conservation reserve is to protect, propagate, and develop wildlife and its environment”. Chhari Dhandh Conservation Reserve will cover more than 22,000 hectares of land in the three Kutch talukas of Bhuj, Nakhtrana, and Lakhpat.

Menace of fishing had rise in recent years at Chhari Dhand. Concern environmentalists and nature lovers including ex MP from royal family of Kutch late Shree Himmatsinhji had raised voice against fishing activities in Chhari Dhand. Then former collector of Kutch, Pradip Sharma had banned fishing activities in Chhari Dhand but fisherman had challenged it in the high-court. High court in it’s order had given full authority to decide in this issue to Gujarat government’s fisheries department. Instead of preventing fishermen to explore Chhari Dhand wetland, Fisheries department had started re-issuing permits to fishermen for fishing. Thus fishing activity had started again in full swing at Chhari Dhand.

As Chhari Dhand is protected forest wetland now, Forest protection act has come into efffect here and commercial activities including fishing are totally banned with immediate effect according to law. Permission will not be granted for any permanent construction in surrounding five to six kilometers area.

This Photo is taken from mountainpath2001 ‘s collection onflickr
(Photo was clicked by: Jugal Tiwari)