(Daily News Scan - DNS English) What is Project Dolphin?
The Prime Minister in his Independence Day speech, had mentioned about the government’s plan to launch a Project Dolphin. This proposed project is aimed at saving both the Marine and river dolphins. This project will also create employment opportunities and give a boost to biodiversity. Gangetic river dolphins were declared national aquatic species in 2010.
In this edition of our DNS we will talk about the Project Dolphin and what steps have been taken previously to save them.
The Ganges river dolphin is a species of freshwater dolphins, found in the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers and their tributaries in India, Bangladesh and Nepal.
In India, these dolphins can be seen in long deep river reaches in Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), which implements the government’s flagship scheme Namami Gange, has been taking some initiatives for saving dolphins. Now, Project Dolphin is expected to be implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
The Gangetic river system is home to a vast variety of aquatic life, including the Gangetic dolphin (Platanista gangetica). The Gangetic dolphin is one of five species of river dolphin found around the world. It is found mainly in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems.
An adult dolphin can weigh between 70 kg and 90 kg. The breeding season of the Gangetic dolphin extends from January to June. They feed on several species of fishes and invertebrates.
Earlier, as per some of the experts the dolphins were seen in the Yamuna up to as far as Delhi. Previously, Gangetic dolphins could be spotted in the Ganga at several places, from its delta in the Bay of Bengal to upstream in the Himalayan foothills. They were also found in the Ganga’s tributaries.
But with the construction of dams and barrages and increased level of pollution has led to the decline of the population of aquatic animals and specially dolphins.
Steps that have been taken till now to protect the Dolphins in India.
The Gangetic dolphin remains listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
WILDLIFE ACT PROTECTION: After the launch of Ganga Action Plan in 1985, the government on November 24, 1986 included Gangetic dolphins in the First Schedule of the Indian Wildlife (Protection), Act 1972.
Vikramshila Ganges Dolphin Sanctuary was established in Bihar under this Act.
CONSERVATION PLAN: The government also prepared The Conservation Action Plan for the Ganges River Dolphin 2010-2020, which “identified threats to Gangetic Dolphins and impact of river traffic, irrigation canals and depletion of prey-base on Dolphins populations”.
NATIONAL AQUATIC ANIMAL: On October 5, 2009, the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, declared the Gangetic river dolphin as the national aquatic animal. A notification was issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests the following year. Now, the National Mission for Clean Ganga celebrates October 5 as National Ganga River Dolphin Day.
River dolphins act as indicators of healthy river ecosystems, their conservation would ensure controlling river pollution and improving availability of fish and enhancing economies of local communities through sustainable fishery.
