Thol of shame!

Trees being chopped in Thol Bird Sanctuary right under the nose of forest dept officials; environmentalists raise hue & cry

- Kuldeep Tiwari

Thol Lake, a mere 30 km from Ahmedabad, is known for its ecological importance. As a bird sanctuary, it attracts numerous species, especially during the winter, making it a haven for birdwatchers. However, this haven is now under threat.

Following a series of complaints from concerned environmentalists and birdwatchers, Mirror visited the sanctuary on Thursday and found a distressing sight: numerous trees adjacent to the lake had been felled, with logs from mature trees strewn across the grounds.

Adding to the concern, evidence of burnt trees and bushes was found near the lake. Environmentalists warn that this poses a significant risk to the area’s biodiversity and could have detrimental effects on the bird population.

Winter haven