Gujarat HC Bars Tourists from Carrying Food on Boats at Thol Lake

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court has directed the state government and concerned authorities to strengthen conservation measures at the Thol Lake Bird Sanctuary, stressing the need to protect Gujarat’s ecologically sensitive wetlands.

Hearing a suo motu matter, a bench comprising Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice D.N. Ray expressed concern over the preservation of wetlands, including Nalsarovar, Wadhwana, Thol, Khijadiya and Nadabet.

The court specifically directed authorities to prohibit tourists from carrying food or snacks onto boats at Thol Lake, observing that such restrictions are necessary to reduce pollution and safeguard the fragile ecosystem.

While noting that the state government has already banned plastic bottles at the sanctuary, the Chief Justice said the restriction should also apply to food items taken into the eco-sensitive area. The court clarified that food stalls and eateries may operate outside the protected zone but should not be permitted within the sanctuary’s eco-sensitive limits.

During the hearing, the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) informed the court that two industrial units operating without authorisation within the Thol Lake wetland area had been shut down.

The GPCB also told the bench that a high-powered committee has been constituted to monitor and review conservation efforts across the state’s major wetland ecosystems. The state government is expected to file an affidavit detailing the steps taken, including the enforcement of the ban on plastic bottles in wetland areas. DeshGujarat