India Intelligence Report

 

 

 Pollution, Poaching Affecting Conservation

  Two different and unrelated reports show that there increasing pollution and poaching are affecting quality of rivers and wildlife depending on these rivers despite large spends to clean rivers.
 

 

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Pollution, Poaching Affecting Conservation

 

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Two different and unrelated reports show that there increasing pollution and poaching are affecting quality of rivers and wildlife depending on these rivers despite large spends to clean rivers.

According to a census conducted by the National Chambal Sanctuary in {Madhya Pradesh (MP)}, the dolphin population in the Chambal River has dropped by over 1/3rd from 93 to 69 in the last 3 years. The Chamnbal Dolphins were first discovered in 1985 during a census survey of alligators and like their cousins in Ganga and Bhramaputra, they are blind and friendly making them easy prey for unscrupulous poachers greedy to sell their meat and make oil. The Chambal River also has alligators, crocodiles, and some species of tortoises.

In a separate case, the Supreme Court (SC) was extremely peeved that the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) did not provide any representation on remedial action for the over-hyped Ganga Action Plan launched in 1985. Since then, over Rs. 900 crore (USD 195 million) has been spent to clean up industrial pollution but still such pollution continues and water quality is deteriorating rapidly. A Comptroller Auditor General report of 2000 pointed out serious lapses in the implementation of the project and the court was upset that despite directing the MoEF on March 31, 2006 to supply it with a list of remedial actions taken, no data was forthcoming. This is the second time in a row that the MoEF sent its counsel to the SC without adequate instruction. The court has granted the Ministry time till October 31, 2006 to respond.