Nalsarovar Lake, a protected wetland and bird sanctuary, provides a livelihood for the Maldhari pastoralists who depend on it for fodder for their livestock and income through tourism-related activities
It is the largest wetland sanctuary in Gujarat and one of the biggest in India, hosting flocks of indigenous and migratory birds throughout the year.
It is also a popular picnic spot for tourists and city dwellers.
And as the waters quietly run in the Nalsarovar lake, the site also sustains the livelihood of a large number of Maldhari pastoralists.
The Nalsarovar lake, with a depth of 4-8 feet, is home to a variety of aquatic flora and fauna, including algae, fishes and insects. As many as 250 species of birds pass through it in the winter. It now also takes pride of place as a sought-after wedding photography destination.
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For the Maldharis though, it is everything that a solid support system stands for.
They are the nomadic tribal herdsmen and pastoralists of Gujarat, comprising communities like the Bharwad shepherds, Padhars, Sama Sindhi, Devipujak and Khoja Muslims. The Maldharis from the Kachchh region of Gujarat are believed to have migrated to Nalsarovar, covering a distance of about 300 km, in search of fodder and water for their livestock.
Many families moved with their cattle and sheep and settled down near the lake, which is located in the Sanand block of the state.
The cattle owned by the Maldharis depend on the water and aquatic vegetation of the Nalsarovar lake. During extreme heat in this semi-arid region, buffaloes wallow in the waters during the hottest hours to maintain their body temperature.
The aquatic vegetation purifies the water and helps the living organisms to flourish in this natural ecosystem. The branches of the green algae Chara serve as food for the livestock. Chara also maintains water quality and clarity. It is a good stabiliser and is considered a valuable fish habitat.
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Tephrosia purpurea is a good source of fodder for goats. It also makes for a healthy green manure in the fields. Saltbush (Salvadora sp.) is readily browsed by all classes of ruminants, and is beneficial due to its high water content. The Prosopis flowering plants also have high nutritive value, its protein-rich pods being a good feed source for the livestock.
Many areas with aquatic plants provide sustainable forage for the Murrah buffaloes and other animals of the region.
The area, spanning 121 sq.km, was declared as a sanctuary in April 1969. The protected area falls in 4B Gujarat-Rajwara biotic province of the semi-arid biogeographical zone, in the districts of Ahmedabad and Surendranagar as per the classification developed by the Wildlife Institute of India, 1998. It protects the Nalsarovar lake, plains, marshes and wetlands.
Nalsarovar was declared a Ramsar site in 2012. So the wetlands are deemed to be of international importance under the UNESCO’s Ramsar Convention. The protection status enables the local communities to derive their livelihood from the lake.
Though Nalsarovar is a natural shallow lake, its water level increases after heavy rains. It is the only bird sanctuary in India that allows boating. With the support of the forest department, the Maldhari pastoralists also earn a living by taking tourists on bamboo boat rides. The men of the community work as artisans and fishermen too. They possess a fair knowledge of the flora and fauna of the lake, which makes them sought-after tourist guides as well.
The women folk of the Khoja Muslim and Sama Sindhi communities cook for the tourists, preparing traditional Kathiyawadi (a region of Gujarat known for its spicy-hot food) delicacies such as bajri rotla, baigan bharta, lasan chatni, sev tamatar, potato sabji, makhan and white jaggery. They also serve tea containing desi buffalo milk and snacks.
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Over the years, excess water from the Narmada River in Nalsarovar has altered the lake’s content. The increase in water level prevents the greater and lesser flamingos, which thrive in shallow water bodies, from visiting the lake.
Additionally, industries in and around Sanand, known as the ‘Detroit of the East,’ are expanding. Therefore, it is necessary to conserve the Nalsarovar wetland intensively for its ecological, hydrological and socio-economic significance while striking the right balance between climate change and sustainable rural livelihood for the pastoralists.
Many Maldhari youngsters are running a thriving fishing business. To provide further boost to the business, the water lily can be used as a reliable source of protein for incorporation in the diet of fish. The nutritional potential of the water lily for use as livestock feed can also be explored.
The need of the hour is creation of institutional mechanisms to reduce and resolve environmental problems while ensuring local livelihoods and traditional resource use.
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The lead image shows the Nalsarovar Lake that sustains pastoralists and their livestock (Photo by Smruti Smita Mohapatra)
Smruti Smita Mohapatra is a veterinarian with a doctorate in veterinary physiology. As a research fellow at Verghese Kurien Centre of Excellence, Institute of Rural Management Anand, she works on projects related to dairy production, management, cooperation, rural development and indigenous people.
Cynthia Xavier de Carvalho, is a visiting scholar in India from Pernambuco Federal University (UFPE – Brazil). With a doctorate in sociology, she has been researching and coordinating projects on agrarian issues and agroecology for over 20 years. Presently she is a postdoctoral researcher at Institute of Rural Management Anand.
