Lok Sabha Question No. 4627 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-30
Subject: Aquatic Life in Ganga River
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: R. PARTHIPAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4627

ANSWERED ON 30.03.2017

## AQUATIC LIFE IN GANGA RIVER

## 4627. SHRI R. PARTHIPAN

## Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  launched  the  first  ever  across-the-river  survey  in  river  Ganga  to determine the population of aquatic life including that of the endangered Gangetic dolphin recently and if so, the details thereof;

(b)  whether  the  Government  is  having  a  baseline  scientific  data  for  taking  suitable  measures  to improve quality of its water by various studies; and

(c) if so, the details thereof and the efforts made/to be made towards purification of Ganga river water?

## ANSWER

## THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  (IC)  FOR  YOUTH  AFFAIRS  &  SPORTS  AND  MINISTER  OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION (SHRI VIJAY GOEL)

(a)    Yes  Madam,  The  Government  has  recently  launched  a  survey  in  river  Ganga  to  determine  the population  of  aquatic  life  including  that  of  the  endangered  Gangetic  dolphin.  National  Mission  for Clean Ganga has entrusted WildIife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun to carry out a comprehensive survey of the aqua life of Ganga. As part of this project WII has initiated a standardized multi- species focus field survey throughout the Ganga River stretch. The survey focuses on the Gangetic Dolphin, Otter,  Crocodiles,  Fresh  water  turtles,  migratory  and  breeding  water  birds,  Amphibians,  Fish  and aquatic insects.

(b)  Consortium of 7 IITs has conducted a detailed study using the available baseline data to evaluate the  Ganga  River  pollution  and  prepared  Ganga  River  Basin  Management  Plan  (GRBMP).  The recommendations of GRBMP in the form of action points include measures towards achievement of AviralDhara and NirmalDhara through  Ecological  Restoration,  Sustainable  Agriculture,  Geological Safeguarding,  Basin  Protection  against  Disasters,  River  Hazards  Management  and  Environmental Knowledge-Building and Sensitization.

(c)    Conservation  &  cleaning  of  river  Ganga  is  a  continuous  &  collective  effort  of  Central Government, State Governments, Local bodies and general public.

Under  Namami  Gange  Programme  a  holistic  approach  has  been  adopted  to  clean  the  river Ganga. The various types of pollution abatement schemes taken up to clean Ganga may be categorized into core and non-core schemes. Core schemes include Interception and Diversion (I&D) of sewage discharging into the Ganga and creating treatment infrastructure to treat the intercepted sewage. NonCore schemes include providing  Low Cost Sanitation (LCS) at community  and individual levels at identified locations, installation of Crematoria (electric as well as wood based improved crematoria), River  Front  Development  (RFD)  including  bathing  ghats,  river  surface  cleaning,  afforestation, protecting biodiversity and creating public awareness and participation.

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