Lok Sabha Question No. 3140 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-11
Subject: Impact of Gangetic River Dolphins
Ministry: SHIPPING
Asked by: Shashi Tharoor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY  OF SHIPPING

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.3140

I O BE ANSWERED ON 11TH JULY, 2019

## IMPACT OF GANGETIC RIVER DOLPHINS

## 3140, DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of SHIPPING be pleased  to state:

## .iia qnqa<  l*r

- (a)whethertheGovernmentisawareaboutthevariousconcernsraisedregardingthe impactontheGangeticriverDolphinsduetotheNationalWaterway.sProjectsandifso, the details  thereof;
- (b)whethertheproposedWaterwayforcargovesselswillpassthroughtheBhagalpur district' which  .S a reserve for Gangetic river Dolphins and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to ensure that the Gangetic  rir,'er Dolphins will not be adversely affected  by the National  Waterways  Projects?
- (c) whether the Government  has undertaken  any study to measure the impact of these projectsontheGangeticriverDolphinsandotheraquaticanimalsandifso,thedetails thereof and if not, the reasons  therefor; and

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR SHIPPING (SHRI MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

(a)to(d)ToaugmentthenavigationcapacityontheHaldia-VaranasistretchofNational waterwayt'lnlandWaterwaysAuthorityoflndia(lWAl)isimplementingtheJalMargVikas project  (JMVP), with the iechnical assistance  and investment  support of the world Bank The sultanganj-Kahalgaon stretch of NW-1 passes through  Vikramshila  Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary  (VGDS), BhagalPur'

lnordertoenSuresafenavigationalactivities'andaspartoftheEnvironmentaland social Safeguard  Policy  of the world Bank, lwAl undertook  a comprehensive  Environmental and Social  lmpact Assessment  (ESIA) study on NW-',l including on stretches falling within VGDS. The EIA reports include the impact assessment  with reference to the Gangetic DolphinsandVikramshitaGangeticDolphinSanctuary,Bhagalpur.Thereportrecommended a numbers of mitigation/  safeguard  measures for safe navigational  activities  in NW-1 including dolphins and other aquatic animals  protected  areas as indicated at Annex'

Toaddresstheconcernsraisedontheimpactofbargemovementduringthe operational  phase of the project, lwAl has undertaken  a special study in association with llT' Delhi on the effect of navigational  activities on the Gangetic  Dolphin  and other aquatic animals inordertotakeremedialmeasures'TheTermsofReference(ToR)forthisstudyWere finalized  after detailed  consultations  with experts on the subject'

Further,similarmeasuresasadoptedinKashiTurtleSanctuary,Varanasihavebeen adopted in Vikramshila  Gangetic  Dolphin  sanctuary,  Bhagalpur  to ensure safety of aquatic  life

## ti to Sa 3 .07 b

Mitigation/ safeguard  measures for safe navigational  activities  in NW-1 including dolphins  and other aquatic animals  protected areas.

- . Vessel  speed would be restricted  to 2.7 knots in Vikramshila Gangetic  Dolphin sanctuary (VGDS)areatoreducethenoisegenerationfrompropeller.Restrictingspeedofvessels in sanctuary  area can maintain noise levels lower than tolerance levels of dolphins' thus minimizing impact of noise  on dolphins'
- . Vessels would be fitted with propeller guards and dolphin deflectors  to minimize  dolphin accidents.
- Usage  of non-toxic and non TBT containing anti-fouling paints  for  painting  vessel.
- Barge/vessel movement  would be restricted to the disturbance of aquatic life. designated  route onlY to minimize
- lf any aquatic  mammalidolPhin  is through sirens/signals. spotted, then the measures  will be taken to push it away
- All waste  from vessels shall be only. discharged at designated terminals/vessel repair facility