Lok Sabha Question No. 534 (STARRED), answered on 2017-04-11
Subject: Survey on Fish Species
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: G. HARI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*534

TO BE ANSWERED ON  11.04.2017

## Survey on Fish Species

## *534. SHRI G.HARI:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has launched a survey on the river Ganga to determine the population of aquatic life, including that of the endangered Gangetic dolphin and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether a study on fish species composition in the river has also been started from Harsil in Uttarakhand and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the progress made so far on the said survey/study?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIORNMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

(a),(b) &(c) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a), (b) AND (c) OF LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  *534  REGARDING  'SURVEY  ON  FISH SPECIES' RAISED BY SHRI G.HARI  DUE FOR REPLY ON 11.04.2017.

- (a) This Ministry has not launched any survey on the river Ganga to determine the population of aquatic life including the Gangetic dolphin.  However, recently the Ministry  of  Water  Resources  (River  Development  and  Ganga  Rejuvenation), under National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)'s Namami Gange Programme has entrusted a job of comprehensive survey of the aquatic fauna of Ganga river under  the  project  'Biodiversity  Conservation  and  Ganga  Rejuvenation'  to  the Wildlife  Institute  of  India  (WII)  Dehra  Dun.    As  part  of  this  project  WII  has initiated  a  standardized  multi-species field survey throughout the Ganga River. The  survey  focuses  on  the  Gangetic  dolphin,  otters,  crocodiles,  freshwater turtles, migratory and breeding water birds, amphibians, fish and aquatic insects.
- (b) & (c) WII has initiated systematic survey of fishes in Bhagirathi river from Harshil to Deoprayag in Uttarakhand to understand the spatial patterns of fishes across subbasins of Bhagirathi and to assess the diversity  of fishes in river Ganga in the upstream  areas.  This  project  is  being  supported  by  the  Department  of  Science and Technology, Government of India. Significant findings of the survey till date are as follows:
-  17 fish species recorded with a maximum recorded in Balganga followed by Bhilangana.
-  2617 m was the highest elevation till which fishes were recorded (Salmo trutta fario) for lotic system (Bhagirathi River, Harsil) while 3083 m being the highest for lentic system (Dodital Lake).
-  Schizothorax richardsonii showed the highest relative abundance (43 %) as compared to the other species recorded.
-  BRB 2 and BRB 3 as well as  BRB  4  and  Balganga  showed  maximum similarity  in  the  species  composition  with  a  minimum  Bray  Curtis Dissimilarity Index of 0.400.
-  Principal Component Analysis of 13 habitat parameters showed maximum influence of pH, TDS, EC and substrate of cobbles which can affect the fish assemblage patterns.

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