Gharials Halt Beas River Desilting Project

The long-delayed desilting of Punjab's Beas River, intended to mitigate floods and improve water flow, is currently stalled. The project faces a roadblock due to the presence of critically endangered gharials and endangered Indus river dolphins within the river's ecologically sensitive stretches.

The Beas River, spanning approximately 185km through four districts, was designated a Conservation Reserve in 2017 and a Ramsar site in 2019, highlighting its rich biodiversity. A recent study by IIT Ropar identified suitable locations for desilting, prompting the water resources department to seek a no-objection certificate from the state wildlife department.

However, joint inspections with WWF-India revealed that several proposed desilting sites are ecologically sensitive. These areas are critical habitats for gharials and dolphins, whose unpredictable upstream movements make intervention challenging. The Punjab government reintroduced 98 juvenile gharials between December 2017 and December 2021, and a census in March-April 2025 sighted 37 gharials.

The Indus river dolphin population, first officially sighted in 2007 and found in the Harike Wildlife Sanctuary and parts of the Beas River, also remains a conservation concern. Wildlife officials estimate the population is limited and vulnerable to threats like pollution and habitat disturbance. The Chief Wildlife Warden emphasized that desilting cannot proceed in ecologically restricted zones, and the conservation plan will undergo review by multiple wildlife boards before any final decision.

Officials noted that dolphins are known to travel extensive distances upstream, and any unscientific riverbed intervention could disrupt their habitat, breeding grounds, and food chain. The decision on the desilting project hinges on balancing flood prevention needs with the imperative to protect these vulnerable aquatic species.