Ahmedabad: The main opposition party, Congress, today demanded the immediate restoration of boating services at Nalsarovar Lake, one of the world’s 25 Ramsar sites, which has seen some decline in visitor activity following a boating ban imposed after the Harni incident.

Congress spokesperson Parthivraj Singh Kathwadia, during a press conference held at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan, raised concerns about the government’s handling of tourism and its negative impact on local communities. He stated that the ban has left more than 500 families who depend on boating services struggling for their livelihoods.

The Congress spokesperson said, “Last year, more than 320,000 foreign birds from over 140 species arrived at Nalsarovar, which spans an area of more than 120 kilometers. Over 61,000 tourists and bird enthusiasts visited the area to observe the birds and enjoy the tour. Foreign birds such as flamingos, pelicans, white storks, Siberian cranes, and Asian openbills migrate from distant countries like Eurasia, Russia, and China during the winter months and make their home in various wetlands across Gujarat.”

“The ban on boating at Nalsarovar directly affects the livelihoods of people in 15 villages across three talukas—Bavla, Viramgam, and Limbdi. If corporate cruises can be approved and run in large cities like Ahmedabad, why should poor boatmen be deprived?” Kathwadia asked.

He further stated that the poor people in nearby villages used to rely on food stalls and horse-riding services around Nalsarovar for their livelihoods. With the ban on horse rides and now the ban on boating, the employment of a large number of villagers has been severely affected. Due to the saline land and inadequate irrigation, these villagers’ livelihoods were entirely dependent on tourism. The income of these families was sustained for the entire year through just three to four months of business.

Kathwadia also said that due to the ban on boating, “tourists, birdwatchers, wildlife photographers, students, and others coming from far and wide will be deprived of these tourism services and will have to turn back after seeing only the shoreline of Nalsarovar. They will also be unable to access the boat rides to view the foreign birds.”

Highlighting declining tourist numbers, the congress spokesperson said that the local resorts and businesses are also facing significant losses. Kathwadia urged the government to reconsider its policies and to create an SOP that would not only address safety concerns but also ensure the protection of the local economy and employment. DeshGujarat