NGT takes cognisance of declining Indian fish population in Yamuna, threat to Dolphins in Ganga

In two separate suo motu cases, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken cognizance of the threat to dolphins in Ganga river and the decrease in the Indian fish population coupled with an increase in the foreign fish population in Yamuna river. .Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member Dr A Senthil Vel observed that both issues indicated violations of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and the Environment Protection Act..The matters were registered on the basis of articles appearing in news publications Amar Ujala and Mongabay- India..The first article related to a survey conducted by the Central Inland Fisheries Research Centre, Prayagraj (CIFRI) to identify the species of fish present in the Yamuna River in 2021. A five-member team conducted a three-year survey and found that the population of Indian species of fish had decreased in Yamuna coinciding with an increase in population of foreign species of fish..The second article mentioned dwindling numbers of the Gangetic dolphin in the Ganga River. As per the article, these Gangetic dolphin (Platanista gangetica), endemic to the Ganga river, play a crucial role in stabilising the ecosystem, regulating the energy flow of the river and maintaining the fish and crustacean populations. It stated that the dolphin population has dwindled in recent years, especially in the upstream stretches of the river, with estimates pegging the numbers between 2,500 and 5,000..The Tribunal determined that both articles raised substantial issue regarding compliance of the environmental norms and implementation of the provisions of scheduled enactment..Accordingly, it issued notice to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC), CIFRI and the District Collector of Agra in the matter related to fish population in Yamuna, which will be heard further on September 20.In the matter related to threat to Gangetic dolphin, notice was issued to Wildlife Institute of India (WII), National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and CPCB. The matter will be heard next on September 24..[Read Orders]