Shallow, polluted Ganga losing dolphins

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Mother of all rivers in India, the Ganga, is unable to sustain the

only population of freshwater dolphins found in the country. The

dolphins living a pathetic life in the Ganga are fighting a loosing

battle for their survival.

Their threat to life is the commercial fishing and

ecologically-insensitive irrigation practices along the river.

Polluted water flowing into the river from a number of tributaries

are severely straining the habitat of these shy mammals. Adding

more to its miseries, huge quantity of water taken out of the

Ganga through numerous irrigation barrages are making the

river shallow day by day.

Dolphin poaching is rampant in the Ganga. The Patna High

Court has taken cognizance of the situation and initiated

proceedings to save this elusive creature. Cultivation on the

banks of the Ganga use Organochlorine pesticides, which drain

into the river and poison the dolphins.

Vikramshila Ganges River Dolphin Sanctuary near Bhagalpur

notwithstanding, the dolphins, notified under the Wildlife

(Protection) Act 1972, receives very little protection along the

course of the Ganga.

The fishermen flout norms to carry out large-scale fishing in the

protected areas, allege wildlife activists.

Studies conducted by WWF-India show that the dolphins are

restricted between Brijghat and Narora barrages of the Ganga,

an 82 km stretch that ensures sufficient water for the animal.

Significantly, a large number of dolphin population is also in river

Chambal, a tributary of the Ganga.

Irrigation canals in the Ganga river system may have brought

prosperity to the river basin, but are bane for the "unfortunate"

dolphins in the Ganga. As water is whisked away from barrages

for irrigation, large tracts of river have become too shallow for the

dolphins to survive.

Contractual fishermen, who have been issued license by the

State irrigation department, exploit the resources in the Ganga.

Not only is the method of fishing disastrous to the ecosystem of

the river, but small fishes - the food for dolphins - are almost

gone.

There have been instances when dolphins have been caught in

the fishing nets and killed, local wildlife activists point out.

"Forest department and district authorities should strictly enforce

regulation of (commercial) fishing in reserved areas and fish

ladder at barrages," says Dr Sandeep K Behera at WWF-India.

He pointed out that even though fishing is not allowed within a

couple of kilometres upstream and downstream of the barrages,

contractual fishermen do not follow the law and even irrigation

officials do not enforce the rule.

Dr Behera advocates declaring the 65-km stretch of the Ganga

between Brijghat to Narora a protected area. He feels that

awareness programmes among communities, and even

sadhus residing along the river, will go a long way in protecting

dolphins.

Despite being an endangered species, little research has gone

into understanding the dolphins. There is no proper census on

their population and migration. "There is a need for year-round

surveillance of dolphins to determine the home range of dolphin

herds," says Mr Dhruvajyoti Basu of the Uttar Pradesh Forest

Department. Mr Basu has studied dolphin population in the

Geruwa and Ghagra rivers.

Researchers have also pointed out that due to shallow patches

along the Ganga, dolphin population has become isolated at

various stretches. This does not bode well for the genetic

diversity of the dolphins and run the risk of vanishing from the

area.

UP Chief Wildlife Warden R L Singh has agreed to give special

attention to the Ganga along the Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuaries.

Wildlife activities also stress the need for creating awareness

about the dolphins among communities living along the Ganga

banks, and even pilgrims, and involve people as key partners in

the conservation of dolphins. Plans are afoot to promote Narora

as the dolphin eco-centre.

 

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