Tarn Taran Diary; Ecologist comes forward to save dolphin population

It is Navdeep Kumar Sood, wildlife ecologist and researcher at the Beas Conservation Reserve, who has come forward to raise grave concerns about the future of dolphins, emphasising the urgent need for stronger conservation efforts and habitat restoration. Sood has noted that while the encounter rate does not provide an exact estimate of the remaining population, an increase in dolphin numbers in the river Beas near Karmuwala village (Tarn Taran) years back would have resulted in a higher encounter rate, reinforcing the trend of their decline.

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Sood, while sharing his concern here, said that the population of the Indus river dolphin in Tarn Taran shows a threat to species, ecology and local tourism. He said that a recent report titled, 'Population status of river dolphins 2024', published by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and the Wildlife Institute of India (Dehradun), reveals a significant and worrisome decline in the population of Indus river dolphins in Beas river. During the latest survey, only three were detected ---two adults and one neonate --- resulting in a worrying encounter rate of just 0.03/km. This low encounter rate highlights a probable critical decline in the species, which now faces a precarious future. He said that the report also noted the tragic loss of a pregnant female dolphin in early 2024, reducing the population to just two. The WWF India recorded five dolphins in the region in 2018. These findings are a stark indication of the rapid and alarming decline of the species in recent years. Sood added that historically, the Indus river dolphin was abundant in the middle and lower sections of its range. However, the species has suffered extensive habitat destruction, pollution and other human-induced disturbances, leading to a sharp decrease in population. He said that these dolphins are primarily found in Pakistan and only in the Beas Conservation Reserve in India, where their survival is under increasing threat. The Indus river dolphin was declared the state aquatic animal of Punjab in the year 2019. The presence of Indus river dolphins has long been a key attraction for eco-tourism in the area. With the reduction in their numbers, the potential for sustainable tourism that relies on the presence of dolphins is now jeopardised, which could have far-reaching implications for the community and its economy.

Best school award for seven institutions

Seven government schools of the district received the ‘Best School Award’ at a state-level function organised recently at Chandigarh. Harjot Singh Bains , Education Minister, was the chief guest at the function who gave away awards for the session 2023-24 and 2024-25. One of the awards is for the elementary and the other six for secondary department. Satnam Singh Bath, District Education Officer (Secondary), said that the secondary schools of the department for the session of 2023-24 are Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Valtoha, Government High School, Jalalabad and Government Middle School, Margindpura. The DEO (Secondary) added that three other schools which have been awarded for the session of 2024-25 are Government Senior Secondary School, Ekal Gadda, Government High School, Musse and Government Middle School, Singhpura.

Doors, other parts of public toilets doors go missing

The doors and other parts of the common toilets re-constructed by the Municipal Council, Tarn Taran, outside the local railways station, has been stolen by miscreants thanks to the indifference of the authorities concerned. Jawahar Lal, a rehri operator working near the gate of the railway station, said he informed the authorities repeatedly when thefts started taking place but no one cared. As a result, the doors along with other parts have already been stolen. There are separate toilets for men and women. The water supply facility is missing for the toilets. Jawahar Lal urged the officials to visit the site to look at the negligence of the authorities concerned.

Contributed by Gurbaxpuri