Ministry takes up dolphin preservation issue with UP

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 16

The Union Jal Shakti Ministry has taken up the issue of preservation of dolphins in the Ganges with the authorities in Uttar Pradesh.

The ministry’s move is in the wake of the brutal killing of a dolphin, which is an endangered species, on New Year’s Eve in Pratapgarh district of the state.

The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) of the ministry has taken up the dolphin’s killing with the authorities in Pratapgarh.

“The attack on dolphin is distressing for people throughout the country,” said Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, Director-General of NMCG, said.

“We have spoken to the Pratapgarh DM requesting action against culprits and understand that three of the people involved have been arrested,” he added.

The NMCG said, “The Forest Department carries out patrolling in the areas where dolphins have been sighted to prevent the occurrence of any such incident.”

Besides, it has sent an advisory to the district administration, the Ganga Doors (‘Ganga Prahrees’), who are volunteers under the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangarhan (NYKS) programme, and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) to conduct intensive awareness campaign to sensitise and prevent such inhuman attack on the country’s rich biodiversity.

The Union Government had declared dolphins as national aquatic animal in 2009 to save them from extinction.