The double-digit deaths of Ganges River Dolphins in Assam since 2020 have cast a shadow over the conservation of the endangered freshwater mammal, with the Centre attributing the fatalities to accidental killings, internal injuries, and other unidentified causes.
The data, tabled in the Lok Sabha by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on Monday, points to ongoing threats facing the species in its natural habitat, particularly in the Brahmaputra River and its tributaries.
Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh, responding to a query from MP Pradyut Bordoloi, said, “The deaths were attributed to causes such as accidental killing, internal injuries, and unidentified factors.”
The Ganges River Dolphin, India’s national aquatic animal, is listed as endangered and is primarily found in the Ganga and Brahmaputra river systems. The minister noted that no dolphin sightings have recently been reported from the Barak River basin in Assam, signalling a possible retreat of the species from that region.
The decline has triggered fresh concerns from conservationists, who have long warned about the cumulative impact of river traffic, illegal fishing practices, siltation, and infrastructure development on aquatic biodiversity in the Northeast.
Also read: Bengal ranks third in India’s dolphin population
Although the first comprehensive population estimate conducted under Project Dolphin pegged the species' number at 6,324 across the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Beas rivers, the data may mask localised declines, especially in states like Assam.
Singh said the Brahmaputra dolphin population remained “stable” as per survey data, but acknowledged that the government had not undertaken any specific study to assess the impact of infrastructure projects such as dams and bridges on dolphin habitats in Assam.
“No specific study has been carried out to examine the direct effects of large-scale projects—such as dams and bridges—on dolphin populations in Assam,” he stated.
He further noted that under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, biodiversity assessments are mandated for large-scale projects. Proposals involving over 50 hectares of land within protected areas must include a biodiversity impact report for review by the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife.
Despite these procedural safeguards, experts argue that the absence of targeted impact studies has left significant knowledge gaps, especially in biodiversity-rich states like Assam.
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