While multiple factors have contributed, alarm bells rang out over the 262 km-long road that was given the go-ahead in the first meeting of the National Board for Wildlife (NBW) chaired by PM Narendra Modi. Experts warn that vehicular traffic on the road, which will cut through the sanctuary, will cause disturbance in the breeding colony.

Dr Raju Kasambe, project manager, IBA says the road will sound the death knell of the breeding site. "The government has proposed that the road is crucial to facilitating the movement of the Border Security Force in this region that falls on the Indo-Pakistan border. However, the BSF uses an existing road. The Gujarat government is using BSF as a cover to promote and expand tourism in the region."

Kasambe said a highway through the region will also disturb other species, including the Indian Wild Ass, Great Indian Bustard, Indian Wolf and Caracal. Curiously, the three-member team of the NBW sent before the formation of the Modi government had also warned of the serious repercussions of the road passing through Flamingo City.

"The proposed road will, in all probability, result in the abandonment of this only breeding site of flamingos, which in turn could spell doom to the population of these birds in the Indian subcontinent," the team has stated in the report.

Experts say that apart from destruction of habitat due to infrastructure development, indiscriminate agricultural expansion in the nearby areas, rampant use of pesticides and poaching are other key factors. It is worth recalling that in 2011 about 400 flamingoes in the sanctuary were electrocuted after they came in contact with high tension wires. The forest department later pressurized the electricity department and had the high-tension wires moved underground.