CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Wildlife department is all set to declare a conservation reserve along the 185-km-long Beas river. No commercial fishing, netting, or hunting will be allowed in the river. Besides, water species like gharials, otter, dolphins, and various types of fish will be bred in this river.
The decision was taken in the recent meeting of the Punjab Wildlife Board to conserve the river’s natural biodiversity. It was also proposed that the species, which have over time migrated from the water body, will be bred again. Also, measures will be taken to stop pollution in the river.
The locals who live along this river will be taken into confidence and will also be involved in the river conservation. They would be part of a committee that will take decisions on how to conserve the river. Besides, special staff will be deployed for the protection of the river to stop illegal fishing, netting, and hunting.
Confirming the decision, Chief Wildlife Warden, Punjab, Dhirendra Singh said, “This is a first-of-a-kind river conservation reserve in the country and will have far reaching effects.”
In the next five years, a total of 100 gharials will be released in the river. The phase-wise work would start in September and October and then later continue in February and March next year.
The first lot of gharials has been bred in the state and the rest will be procured from the wildlife departments in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. These gharials will come from Kukrail Reserve Forest near Lucknow and from Morena in Madhya Pradesh.
To encourage tourist footfall, special dolphin and otter sighting tours will be organised.