Lok Sabha Question No. 2719 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-15
Subject: Census of Dolphins
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.   2719

TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2015

## Census of Dolphins

## 2719.    SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  census  of  fresh  water  dolphins  in  river ganga and its tributaries since 2012;
- (b) if so, the details and the outcome thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  developmental  activities  in  and  around  the  river  system  have  resulted  in shrinking of its habitat and decline of the said dolphins since 1995; and
- (d) if  so,  the  steps/measures being considered for the restoration of their habitats so as to increase their population?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) and (b) The Uttar Pradesh Forest Department in collaboration with the World Wide Fund-India under the auspices of the National Mission for Clean Ganga had carried out census of Ganga River Dolphin during October 2015. The census was  carried  out  in  the  Uttar  Pradesh  part  of  the  Ganges  River  and  its tributaries  such  as  Yamuna, Son, Ken, Betwa, Ghaghra and Gerua. During the 2015 census in Uttar Pradesh, around 1263 Dolphins were recorded.
- (c) and (d) Although developmental activities like construction of dams, improper water harvesting, indiscriminate fishing and increasing river pollution pose threat to the habitat and well-being of the dolphins, the census of Ganges Dolphins carried  out  in  2015  indicate  an  increase  in  population  from  the  earlier estimate of 671 as per census of 2012. The following are the important steps taken for conservation of Gangetic Dolphins:
- i. Gangetic Dolphins are listed in Schedule-I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, thereby according them the highest degree of protection against hunting.
- ii. The  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  has designated Gangetic Dolphins as 'National Aquatic Animal.
- iii. A  Working  Group  for  developing  a  Conservation  Action  Plan  for Ganges  River  Dolphin  for  2010-2020  has  been  constituted  by  the Ministry.
- iv. Wildlife Sanctuaries covering important Dolphin habitats have been created in the country  under  the  provisions of the  Wild  Life (Protection)  Act,  1972  to  conserve  their  habitats.  These  include National Chambal Sanctuary, Saranath Turtle Sanctuary, Vikramshila Ganges Dolphin Sanctuary.
- v. Gangetic  Dolphin  is  one  of  the  16  species  identified  for  taking  up 'Recovery  programme  of  Critically  Endangered  Species,  under  the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of 'Integrated Development  of Wildlife Habitat'.
- vi. The National CAMPA Advisory Council in its 6 th meeting held on 8 th July, 2015 has approved an amount of Rs 23.00 crores in duration of 5 years for recovery programme of Ganges River Dolphin ( Platanista gangetica gangetica ). This project is to be coordinated by Wildlife Institute of India.  The amount of Rs. 4.60 crores has been released during the first year, 2015-16