CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -“Though some States have independently surveyed Ganga dolphins in the past, they followed different methodologies for their enumeration.

Detailed explanation-2: -Dolphin Declared National Aquatic Animal 18th May 2010: The Ministry of Environment and Forests notified the Ganges River Dolphin as the National Aquatic Animal today.

Detailed explanation-3: -Salient features of “Namami Gange” programme Will cover 8 states, 47 towns & 12 rivers under the project. Over 1, 632-gram panchayats on the banks of Ganga to be made open defecation-free by 2022.

Detailed explanation-4: -’Namami Gange Programme’, is an Integrated Conservation Mission, approved as ‘Flagship Programme’ by the Union Government in June 2014 with budget outlay of Rs. 20, 000 Crore to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.

Detailed explanation-5: -The Ganges river dolphin is important because it is a reliable indicator of the health of the entire river ecosystem. The government of India declared it the National Aquatic Animal in 2009.