(a) whether the number of different types of wildlife species found in Ganga have increased during the last three years;
(b) if so, the details of such species; and
(c) the initiatives taken by the Government to protect wildlife in holy river?
(a) whether the number of different types of wildlife species found in Ganga have increased during the last three years;
(b) if so, the details of such species; and
(c) the initiatives taken by the Government to protect wildlife in holy river?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION (SUSHRI UMA BHARTI)
(a) & (b) No comprehensive study has been conducted in the last three years to suggest the increase in number of different types of Wildlife species in Ganga. However, some information on population status (increase/decrease) of higher vertebrates in Ganga is available for the State of Uttar Pradesh. A World Wildlife Fund (WWF) WWF-India in 2012 study shows that population of Gangetic dolphins has increased slightly, over their population in 2005. Similarly, a collaborative project between WWF-India and Government of Uttar Pradesh Forest Department started reintroducing Gharials in Ganga in 2007. Till date more than 500 Gharials have been released in Ganga. According to WWF-India’s report the survival rates of the reintroduced Gharials is increasing.
(c) National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is developing a detailed 10-year plan for conservation of the wildlife species in Ganga. Under “Namami Gange” Programme, the following projects have been developed under “Conservation of aquatic life with special attention to Dolphin, Ghariyal and Turtles,” for implementation.
• Detailed survey of the entire Ganga River to understand the present status of Aquatic biodiversity in Ganga.
• For rejuvenation of fish species, Central Inland Fishery Research Institute (CIFRI) will be working to rejuvenate the endemic fish species found in Ganga.
• For rejuvenation of Turtles and Gharials, projects are approved for implementation by the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department for breeding and releasing gharials and turtles.
• The Bihar Forest Department will be developing a Management Plan for Vikramshila Dolphin Sanctuary to conserve the River Dolphins in the sanctuary.
• A comprehensive awareness programme has been designed and being implemented by Center of Environment Education (CEE) in the Ganga Basin States.
Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun is developing a comprehensive Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Afforestation work along the banks of Ganga River.
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