Project Dolphin announced by PM Modi to be launched in 15 days: Javadekar

ambitious project to conserve Gangetic river dolphins anunced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be launched in 15 days, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javekar said on Monday.

prime minister h on 74th Independence Day anunced ‘Project Dolphin’, saying it will give a boost to biodiversity and create employment opportunities.

“As anunced by PM @narendramodi ji on #74thIndependenceDay, @moefcc will be launching a holistic Project #Dolphin in ar 15 days for conservation and protection of #Dolphins in rivers and in oceans of country,” Javekar tweeted.

PM h on August 15 said his government wanted to promote Project Dolphin.

“We will focus on both s of dolphins living in rivers and in seas. This will also give a boost to biodiversity and create employment opportunities. This is also a centre of attraction for tourism. So, we are going to move forward in this direction too,” Modi h said.

Gangetic river dolphins were declared national aquatic species in 2010.

Ganges river dolphin is a species of freshwater dolphins primarily found in Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers and ir tributaries in India, Banglesh and Nepal.

In India, se dolphins are sighted in long deep river reaches in Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Mhya Presh, Rajasthan, Uttar Presh and West Bengal.

As per official figures, re are about 3,700 Gangetic river dolphins in Indian river systems.

As river dolphins act as indicators of healthy river ecosystems, ir conservation would also ensure controlling river pollution and improving availability of fish and enhancing ecomies of local communities through sustainable fishery, ministry said.

“It enviss to dress conservation concerns and empower stakeholders like river-dependent population in reducing river pollution and allowing sustainable fishery and river-based or livelihood options through scientifically oriented conservation methods,” it said.