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Punjab Defends Dolphin Protection Amid NGT Scrutiny
21 May
Summary
- Punjab government details conservation measures for endangered Indus river dolphin.
- Dolphin, once thought extinct, was re-sighted in 2007.
- A 185-km Beas river stretch is a protected conservation reserve.
The Punjab government has presented a robust defense to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) regarding its conservation of the endangered Indus river dolphin.
The state detailed significant conservation measures, statutory compliance, and continuous monitoring systems implemented for the protection of the species and its habitat along an 185-km stretch of the Beas river.
Following the species' rediscovery in 2007, Punjab has taken proactive steps, including declaring the Beas river stretch as a conservation reserve in August 2017 and designating the Indus river dolphin as the state aquatic animal in March 2019.
Mechanized sand mining is prohibited within the reserve, and continuous patrolling curbs illegal activities. Fishing within the Beas Conservation Reserve was banned in July 2023, with no subsequent dolphin entanglement incidents reported.
Monitoring protocols are in place, with a single mortality recorded and attributed to natural causes. A comprehensive population estimation exercise using advanced scientific techniques is scheduled for 2026 in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India and WWF-India.
Efforts are also underway to maintain ecological flow and adequate water depth in the Beas, with approximately 150 local volunteers trained as 'Beas dolphin mitras' for community-based conservation and emergency response. Awareness programs target local communities and schools along the river.
