Lok Sabha Question No. 3709 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-24
Subject: Project Dolphin
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Vijayakumar Alias Vijay Vasanth, Ms Sayani Ghosh, Shri Manickam Tagore B

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3709

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2025

## Project Dolphin

## 3709.   SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR ALIAS VIJAY VASANTH:

MS SAYANI GHOSH:

SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B:

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

- (a) the current status of Project Dolphin along with the funds allocated and utilised since its inception, year-wise;
- (b) the  details  of  findings  of  the  first  population  estimation  of  riverine  dolphins  in  the country, including the manner in which Government plans to use this data for future conservation efforts under Project Dolphin;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to address the ongoing threats to the Ganges and Indus river dolphins, considering their vulnerable status and the slow growth rate of these species;
- (d) the specific conservation measures planned to protect this critically endangered species, especially in the face of dwindling populations;
- (e) the  steps  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  to  address  the  concerns  regarding  human disturbances  in  the  habitats  of  river  dolphins  along  with  the  regulations  or  policies implemented to reduce such threats, particularly in the areas of fishing, water pollution and infrastructure development;
- (f) whether the  Government is considering to expand the geographical scope of Project Dolphin to cover more river systems, including smaller tributaries and lesser-known dolphin habitats that may not have been included in the current survey; and
- (g) the manner in which Project Dolphin helped in the conservation of dolphins?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a) The major steps taken under  the  Project Dolphin are  as follows:
- i. A comprehensive action plan (2022-2047) has been developed under which  role  of  various  stakeholders  and  line  Ministries  have  been identified for conservation of the river dolphins and aquatic habitats.
- ii. First-ever range-wide population estimation of riverine dolphins and associated species has been carried out in the country.
- iii. Under the Project Dolphin, first-ever satellite-tagging of the Ganges River Dolphin ( Platanista gangetica ) has been done in the country.
- iv. The Ministry has released a National Marine Turtle Action Plan with the aim to conserve marine turtles and their habitats in India.
- v. The Ministry has released 'Marine Megafauna Stranding Management Guidelines' in 2021 for management of stranding and entanglement of marine mega fauna.
- vi. Awareness campaigns for community participation in Dolphin and other aquatic and marine species conservation have been undertaken.
- vii. Capacity  building  of  the  forest  staff  for  dolphin  monitoring  and management of its habitats has been undertaken.
- viii. Financial assistance have been provided to States/UTs for conservation  and  management  of  wildlife  including  the  dolphins, and  other  aquatic  fauna.  The  detail  of  funds  released  under  the Centrally Sponsored Scheme - Development of Wildlife Habitats is placed as Annexure -I .
- (b) The population survey conducted across eight states, namely, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar,  Jharkhand,  Rajasthan,  Madhya  Pradesh,  West  Bengal,  Assam,  and Punjab estimated 6,327 riverine dolphins across the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Indus river systems. This includes 6,324 Ganges River dolphins and three Indus River dolphins. The study has set a baseline of river dolphin population in the country.

The study has also identified the important dolphin hot spots, status of other aquatic  fauna,  threats  and  role  of  the  community  engagement,  research  and monitoring which  plays an important role for ensuring the long term management  of riverine dolphins in the country.

- (c) to (e) The major steps taken by the Government for conservation of Dolphins and other associated aquatic species are as follows:
- i. Gangetic ( Platanista gangetica ) and Indus River Dolphin ( Platanista  minor ) have been listed under   Schedule- I of the Wild Life  (Protection  )  Act  1972,  according  them  highest  degree  of protection against hunting.
- ii. The Ministry has amended Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 in the year 2022 to empower Indian Coast Guards for entry, search, arrest and detention in case of contravention of provisions of the Act.
- iii. Financial  assistance  provided  to  States/UTs  for  conservation  and management of wildlife including the dolphins, and other aquatic fauna  under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  -'Development  of Wildlife Habitats'.
- iv. Dolphins have been included in the listed of 22 identified critically endangered  species,  under  species  recovery  programme  of  the Centrally Sponsored Scheme -'Development of Wildlife Habitats', for which financial support is provided to the State/UTs.
- v. Efforts are taken by the State Forest Departments of dolphin range states  for  removal  of  underwater  ghost  nets,  coastline  cleaning, compensation and  rewards  to  citizens  for  information  on  dolphin stranding, collection of stray/ghost nets, and habitat monitoring.
- vi. Alternative livelihoods options are promoted to reduce dependency on activities harmful to dolphin habitats.
- vii. Partnerships with academic and research institutions is done to study dolphin ecology and threats.
- (f) and (g)  The  Project  Dolphin  has  provided  scientific  impetus  and  a  platform  for convergence of efforts being taken by the State Governments and Government of  India  for  conservation  and  protection  of  dolphins,  associated  species  and aquatic habitats.

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## Annexure-I

## Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.3709 regarding 'Project Dolphin''

Details of funds released and utilised by States/UTs under Centrally Sponsored Scheme -'Development of Wildlife Habitats' during last four years:

(Amount in lakhs)

|                  | 2020-21        | 2020-21         | 2021-22        | 2021-22         | 2022-23        | 2022-23         | 2023-24        | 2023-24         |
|------------------|----------------|-----------------|----------------|-----------------|----------------|-----------------|----------------|-----------------|
| Name of State/UT | Fund release d | Fund utilized * | Fund release d | Fund utilized * | Fund release d | Fund utilized * | Fund release d | Fund utilized * |
| A& N Islands     | 0.0            | 0.0             | 135.8          | 0.0             | 25.1           | 0.0             | 0.0            | 0.0             |
| Assam            | 0.0            | 0.0             | 0.0            | 0.0             | 209.1          | 190.9           | 565.1          | 577.0           |
| Bihar            | 205.2          | 138.3           | 410.9          | 0.0             | 0.0            | 0.0             | 336.4          | 325.6           |
| Goa              | 0.0            | 0.0             | 0.0            | 0.0             | 0.0            | 0.0             | 50.1           | 48.3            |
| Gujarat          | 124.6          | 0.0             | 0.0            | 0.0             | 200.0          | 84.7            | 207.0          | 207.5           |
| Jharkhand        | 198.2          | 109.8           | 79.5           | 79.5            | 0.0            | 0.0             | 14.9           | 63.5            |
| Karnataka        | 586.1          | 682.9           | 1256.6         | 1164.0          | 291.7          | 339.0           | 581.5          | 675.4           |
| Kerala           | 731.3          | 700.5           | 295.8          | 205.6           | 224.5          | 313.4           | 921.0          | 921.0           |
| Madhya Pradesh   | 801.6          | 783.1           | 389.3          | 511.4           | 265.6          | 307.2           | 471.8          | 487.5           |
| Odisha           | 694.2          | 688.8           | 726.8          | 690.2           | 967.5          | 854.3           | 1005.1         | 1155.5          |
| Rajasthan        | 309.1          | 549.8           | 1007.6         | 1046.3          | 86.8           | 0.0             | 0.0            | 0.0             |
| Tamil Nadu       | 334.0          | 228.7           | 390.8          | 363.2           | 133.0          | 162.7           | 373.9          | 483.7           |
| Uttar Pradesh    | 312.9          | 315.0           | 169.1          | 166.7           | 266.7          | 231.0           | 290.6          | 291.2           |
| Uttarakhand      | 441.6          | 499.1           | 226.3          | 214.4           | 213.0          | 227.2           | 498.5          | 395.6           |
| West Bengal      | 710.6          | 835.4           | 757.3          | 580.1           | 201.3          | 224.2           | 385.3          | 400.0           |
| Lakshadweep      | 462.9          | 462.9           | 462.1          | 214.4           | 269.9          | 198.3           | 124.7          | 124.7           |