Home / Environment / NGT Demands Action for Fading Indus Dolphins
NGT Demands Action for Fading Indus Dolphins
22 Sep
Summary
- Fewer than 10 Indus River dolphins remain in the Beas river.
- NGT has directed Himachal Pradesh's chief wildlife warden to report.
- Threats include fishing gear, pollution, and water flow fluctuations.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a stern directive to Himachal Pradesh's chief wildlife warden, demanding a report within four weeks concerning the severe threats to the critically endangered Indus River dolphin population in the Beas river. Astonishingly, fewer than 10 individuals of this species are now estimated to exist in this habitat.
The NGT's action follows suo motu cognizance taken in September 2024 regarding a report on the declining habitat of the Indus river dolphin (Platanista minor). The tribunal has impleaded seven key agencies, including the chief wildlife wardens of Himachal and Punjab, to address the shrinking habitat. These agencies are tasked with explaining the conservation status of this species.
This critically endangered freshwater species, historically found in the Indus river system, has seen its habitat decline by 80% since the 1870s. A small population discovered in the Beas near Harike barrage in Punjab, around 600 km from its main habitat, is vital for genetic diversity. Surveys between 2011 and 2022 recorded only one to eight dolphins annually.
Major threats identified include entanglement in fishing gear, water pollution, and difficulties navigating the Harike barrage. Upstream hydropower projects in Himachal Pradesh exacerbate water availability issues and cause fluctuations in water levels. The tribunal noted potential violations of the Water Act, 1974, the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
