Japan-backed project aims to make Gujarat’s largest bird sanctuary Nal Sarovar plastic free

The Gujarat government has launched a project, in collaboration with Japan, to make Nal Sarovar, the state's largest bird sanctuary, plastic-free. The Project for Eco-Restoration in Gujarat (PERG), supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), aims to incentivize plastic waste collection from villages within a 2-4 km radius of the sanctuary.

The 120 sq km wetland, located 60 km from Ahmedabad, is considered the largest natural lake in the state and is a critical habitat for migratory birds from Central Asia, Siberia, and Europe. These birds face significant plastic pollution hazards around the protected zone, making the project necessary.

Under the Rs 2.94-crore project, residents from 14 villages surrounding Nal Sarovar will collect plastic waste and deposit it at a forest department facility. The facility will shred the waste and sell it to a firm for recycling. Residents will be paid higher rates than the current market rate for their waste collection efforts.

The project is expected to create employment for local residents and substantially reduce the volume of plastic reaching Nal Sarovar annually, thereby protecting its rich biodiversity and ecological balance.