Rajkot: Clatter of tourists has silenced the chirping of birds in Khijadia bird sanctuary, which is considered to be a heaven for bird waters.The restrictions for tourists have only remained on paper and tourists are merrily strolling around with drone cameras too, causing immense disturbance to birds here.According to last year’s census, nearly 80,000 birds of 300 species that included a big number of migratory ones, were seen in this sanctuary located 10 km from Jamnagar city.Bird lovers said that the government has promoted Khijadia as a tourist site but failed to strictly implement rules and regulations. There is no regulation on the entry of cameras inside the sanctuary and the visitor only has to pay Rs 200 as fees to take their lenses inside. Many visitors are frequently seen taking pictures inside the sanctuary with using drone cameras, which create noise and disturb the birds.Tourists vehicles are not allowed inside, but forest employees move inside on bikes. The bird watchers have suggested that forest employees do patrolling on cycle so that it does not disturb the birds. The sanctuary area is spread in six acres area and tourists have to walk five km. However, there is no sanitation or drinking water facility for the tourists.Kishor Pithadia, a primary school teacher in Khijadia and an avid bird watcher said, “There is no medical facility for the birds to treat them in case of accident or illness. It’s good that no tourist vehicle is allowed inside. but there should be some facility for the handicap and old people on the lines of Sasan.”Jaypalsinh Jadeja, a bird watcher who has been visiting Khijadia for the past two decades said, “We are in talks with the forest department to start battery-operated cars for the tourists. Department is also required to create green huts for photography like in foreign countries. The bird lovers can take pictures by sitting at such dedicated places so that the birds are not disturbed.”When contacted, chief conservator of forest (CCF), Junagadh circle, S K Mehta said, “Drone cameras are not allowed inside and we will inquire how these were allowed inside.”Beginning October every year, thousands of birds visit the sanctuary across the globe. The wetland eco-system of Khijadia is a wintering ground for migratory waterfowls from Palaearctic region and an important breeding ground for many species of wetland birds.There are two fresh water lakes in the sanctuary separated by a gulf and an earthen dam. The two lakes are not inter-linked as they are at some distance from each other.

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