Executive Summary:
This document presents the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change's response to questions regarding the conservation of Ganges River Dolphins. It details population estimates, mortality cases, impact studies on infrastructure, and fund allocation under Project Dolphin, specifically addressing the Brahmaputra and Barak river basins. The data includes figures up to 2025, with fund allocation details spanning 2020-2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Ganges River Dolphin Population:**
* A comprehensive survey estimates a population of 6,324 Ganges River Dolphins.
* The population in the Brahmaputra River is reported as stable.
* No recent reports indicate the presence of dolphins in the Barak River.
* Specific population estimations for the Brahmaputra River stretch are provided.
* **Dolphin Mortality:**
* Assam reported 10 dolphin mortality cases between 2020 and 2025.
* Causes of death include accidental killing, unknown reasons, and internal injury.
* **Impact of Infrastructure:**
* The Ministry has not conducted specific studies on the impact of dam construction on dolphin populations in the North East Region.
* The EIA Notification, 2006, mandates biodiversity assessments for dam construction projects.
* Biodiversity impact assessment reports are required for projects exceeding 50 ha within Protected Areas.
* **Project Dolphin Funding:**
* Financial assistance is provided to States/UTs under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme 'Development of Wildlife Habitats'.
* Funding is allocated based on Annual Plans of Operations (APO) and fund availability.
* Details of funds released to States/UTs for dolphin conservation from 2020-2025 are provided.
Impact Analysis:
* **State Governments and Union Territories:**
* Impact: Receive financial assistance for dolphin conservation efforts and management of protected areas.
* Action Required: Submit Annual Plans of Operations (APO) to the Ministry to receive funding; utilise funds effectively for conservation activities.
* **Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change:**
* Impact: Responsible for overseeing and providing financial support for the conservation of Ganges River Dolphins.
* Action Required: Continue to conduct population surveys, monitor mortality cases, and provide financial assistance to States/UTs based on submitted APOs.
* **Project Proponents (Dam Construction, etc.):**
* Impact: Subject to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, which includes biodiversity assessments.
* Action Required: Conduct comprehensive environmental impact assessments, including biodiversity assessments, for dam construction projects; projects within Protected Areas require biodiversity impact assessment reports.
Key Entities Referenced
Ganges River Dolphin: A critically endangered freshwater dolphin species found in the Ganges and Brahmaputra river systems.
Brahmaputra River: A major river in Asia that flows through Tibet, India, and Bangladesh; a habitat for the Ganges River Dolphin.
Barak River: A river in NorthEast India, where the presence of Ganges River Dolphins has not been recently reported.
Project Dolphin: A Government of India initiative for the conservation of river dolphins.
NorthEast Region: Refers to the northeastern region of India, where studies on the impact of infrastructure on Ganges River Dolphins were considered.
Environment Impact Assessment EIA Notification, 2006: A notification mandating a comprehensive environmental clearance process, including biodiversity assessments for dam construction projects.
Centrally Sponsored Scheme Development of Wildlife Habitats: A scheme providing financial assistance to State Governments and Union Territories for wildlife conservation efforts.
Assam: A state in India where mortality cases of River Dolphins were reported.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 66
TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025
Conservation of the Ganges River Dolphin
66. SHRI PRADYUT BORDOLOI:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) the details regarding the current estimated population of the Ganges River Dolphins in the
Brahmaputra and Barak river basins and its estimated decrease/increase during the last ten
years;
(b) the details regarding the number of dead Ganges River Dolphins that have been found in the
Brahmaputra and Barak river basins during the last five years along with the common causes
of death that have been ascertained for them;
(c) whether the Government has conducted any comprehensive studies on the impact of
construction of dams and other infrastructure such as bridges at the locations having more
population of Ganges River Dolphins in the North-East Region and if so, the details thereof;
and
(d) the details regarding the funds allocated to the North-Eastern Region (NER) under Project
Dolphin and the utilisation rates of the same, State-wise?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE
CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) Under Project Dolphin, the first-ever comprehensive population survey of River
Dolphins was conducted in the entire range of the Ganges River Dolphin in the Ganga
and Brahmaputra as well as the Indus River Dolphin in the Beas river systems. The
survey estimated a population of 6,324 (range: 5,977-6,688) Ganges River Dolphins.
As per studies conducted on River Dolphins the population of Gangetic River Dolphin
in Brahmaputra River has been reported as stable but there are no recent reports of its
presence in Barak River. The details of current estimated populations of the Gangetic
River Dolphin in Brahmaputra and Barak River basins is as given below
River Stretch Population Estimation
Brahmaputra Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Setu- 584
Hatsingimari (Indo-Bangladesh (558-610)
Border)
Barak Sonabari (Assam-Manipur Border)- 0
Rajartila (Indo-Bangladesh Border)
(b) As reported by the state of Assam, a total of 10 cases of mortality of River Dolphins
was found across various river systems in Assam between 2020 and 2025. Variousreasons like accidental killing, unknown causes, internal injury etc were ascribed to
these deaths.
(c) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has not undertaken any
specific study on impact of construction of dams and other infrastructure at locations
having more populations of Ganges River Dolphins in North East Region. However,
the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006 mandates a
comprehensive environmental clearance process which also includes biodiversity
assessments as part of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process for dam
construction projects. Further, for projects involving more than 50 ha and falling
within Protected Areas, biodiversity impact assessment report is required for
consideration of the project by the Standing Committee of National Board for
Wildlife.
(d) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change provides financial
assistance to State Governments and Union Territories under Centrally Sponsored
Scheme “Development of Wildlife Habitats” for conservation and management of
protected areas, conservation of wildlife outside protected areas and recovery
programme of 22 identified critically endangered species and its habitats as per the
Annual Plan of Operations (APO) received from the State Governments and Union
Territories and subject to availability of funds. The details of funds released for
species recovery programme of Dolphin to States/UTs under the scheme during last
five years is attached at Annexure.
*****Annexure
Annexure referred to in reply to parts (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 66
due for reply on 21.07.2025 regarding “Conservation of the Ganges River Dolphin”
Details of funds released during the last five years to States/UTs for conservation of Dolphin under
component of Centrally Sponsored Scheme -‘Development of Wildlife Habitats’
(in Lakhs)
S.No. Name of State Year wise fund released
2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
1 Bihar 21.685 112.14223 0 44.10511 0
2 Odisha 22.80 22.95 47.70 40.17966 53.48794
3 Lakshadweep 69.05 46.12 40.175 46.285 46.285
4 Andaman 0 0 25.125 0 0
&Nicobar
5 West Bengal 0 0 20.14875 0 28.76
6 Uttar Pradesh 0 0 55.0068 0 62.11254
7 Assam 0 0 24.39 0 0
8 Madhya 0 0 18.9426 24.367 52.20
Pradesh
9 Rajasthan 0 0 10.25 0 0
10 Tamil Nadu 0 0 0 121.902 120.40125
Total 113.535 181.21223 241.73815 276.83877 363.24673
*****