Discussions were held on the importance of conservation and ranching and its impacts on the socio-economic development of the fishers of the Ganga River
G Ashok Kumar, Director General, National Mission for Clean Ganga, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India inaugurated the National Ranching Programme launched by the ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata.
The ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore launched the Programme by releasing 2 Lakhs Wild Fish Germplasm of IMC (Labeo rohita, Labeo catla and Cirrhinus mrigala) in the Ganga River at Gandhi Ghat, Barrackpore, West Bengal.
In his inaugural address, Kumar stated that through the Arth-Ganga Initiative, the National Mission for Clean Ganga is not only trying to save the endangered species of fishes; but, also increasing the population of the native fishes to ensure sustained livelihood for the fishermen community. The importance of conservation and ranching and its impacts on the socio-economic development of the fishers of the Ganga River was highlighted by Kumar.
Dr BK Das, Director, ICAR- CIFRI, Barrackpore underlined the releasing of 20 Lakhs Wild Fish Germplasm of IMC under the Programme at 10 locations all along the Ganga River in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. During the Mass Awareness Campaign on ‘Hilsa and Dolphin Conservation’ organised as a part of the Programme, Dr Das sensitised the fishermen and made them aware about the significance of conserving the Gangetic fishes including prised Hilsa.
