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Saltpans
of flamingos
On the map, Mithapur in Okhamandal in Gujarat, appears to be
the size of a pin-head sitting delicately on the tip of Saurashtra,
surrounded by the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Gulf of Kutch
to the north and the east. The region is rather secluded, which
is a boon, since tourists flock to the nearby famous Dwarka
temple, and then wander off to other parts of Jamnagar, leaving
this area virgin. Nestled in these sylvan surroundings is an
impressive plant of Tata Chemicals, the second largest producer
of soda ash in the world. It is India's market leader in the
branded and iodised salt segment as well as in urea and phosphate
fertilisers. In such a scenario, you would expect the equation
between man and nature to change. Yet, nature is left largely
undisturbed.
Much of its northern coastline has a thick margin of tidal
mud flats which are lined by mangroves that protect man and
beast alike. Mangroves act as natural embankments, protecting
the land from the incoming tide, and thereby deterring soil
erosion. It also serves another purpose, that of inviting
fish and other small marine creatures to set up their home
within the network of its deep and silted roots. That apart,
the nearby beaches of Mithapur, Kala Tul, Aghoria and Poshitra
are encircled by coral reefs. The olive ridley, and the green
turtles are known to come to nest at the Mithapur coast. Even
the rare bonnelia, a colony of worms, have been found in Mithapur.
However, what awes you is the thriving avian life here. The
Maan Marodi islands nearby are home to the painted stork. The terrain of Okhamandal
is an eclectic mix of tidal mudflats, mangroves, scrub forests
and a clutch of grasslands, amidst which you will find peacocks
moving elegantly from one patch of garden to the next, and
doves, bee-eaters and hoopoes visiting, nesting, humming.
The 30,000 acre saltpans at Tata Chemicals' Charakla salt
works have a thin pink film on their surface — a closer
inspection reveals thousands and thousands of flamingos; the
greater and the lesser flamingos have found a haven here.
These saltpans are situated in the Little Rann of Okhamandal,
spanning an impressive stretch of seacoast from the Gulf of
Kutch to the Arabian Sea. The entire coast is a rich and safe
habitat for birds. Their food is naturally abundant here due
to the tidal mud flats and carefully conserved mangroves that
ensure a thriving aquatic life. The solar processing of salt
requires the regular pumping of sea water into the salt pans.
This is advantageous for the birds, since it brings in fresh
and large quantities of small fish, roe, shrimp, algae, molluscs
and prawns and provides them a daily feast.
No wonder then that a host of aquatic birds turn up on these
shores every autumn, all the way from Central Asia and Europe!
Even during the non-migratory season, you will find flocks
of flamingos in constant, but unhurried search for food. You
will also find other species like the dalmatian and rosy pelicans,
the blackneck stork, reef herons, blackneck grebes and great
egrets making this picturesque saline paradise their home.
As many as 121 species of birds, migratory and resident, have
been recorded at the Charakla salt works.
Tata Chemicals employees take waterfowl counts, and maintain
a record of the birds sighted. They maintain the area as a
protected environment by guarding against poachers, and restricting
vehicular and human egress, ensuring that the birds remain
undisturbed. These norms become even more stringent during
the nesting season. At present, the Charakla Salt Works is
the only known active nesting colony for Caspian Terns and
the Slender bill Gulls in India. The water level in the saltpan
is carefully regulated to ensure that the island on which
these birds nest does not get inundated. Nesting takes place
from June to October, which coincides with the monsoon season
in the region. Hence, if there are heavy downpours which raise
the water level in the saltpan, the excess water is pumped
out. Two new islands have also been constructed in the saltpans,
in coordination with the state forest department, to encourage
the birds to expand their nesting area.
Indeed, these salt works of Tata Chemicals are a fine example
of the serendipitous turning of an industrial process to the
greater advantage of nature.
Sourced from ‘Tata Planet & People Initiatives’
Published by Group Corporate Affairs Copyright Tata Sons Limited,
2009.
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