Once found in abundance in the rivers of Punjab, the critically endangered species of gharial would soon be seen in the state’s Satluj-Beas river system. The State Government, in an attempt to promote eco-tourism across the State, has decided to re-introduce gharials — the last surviving species of the family Gavialidae — in the Satluj-Beas river system with Harike Wildlife Sanctuary as the starting point.
The final nod came by the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Friday, about 10 years after the state Forests Department had submitted a proposal to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests in 2005. After passing through different stages for scrutiny, Union Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change had finally accorded permission for re-introduction of gharials in Harike Wildlife Sanctuary, said a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office.
The Centre has asked the state government to conduct studies and also directed the state Chief Wildlife Warden to seek the opinion of states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Based on the Centre’s directives, WWF-India, which is the pioneer agency in Ghariyal Re-introduction Programme, was asked to conduct Bio-monitoring of Beas River including Harike Wildlife Sanctuary.
WWF-India based at Harike initiated project — the ‘River Watch’ — and after conducting extensive survey for five years, came out with the recommendations that Harike Wildlife Sanctuary and its immediate catchment areas were the best sites for the release of gharials.
In the light of recommendations of WWF-India study, the Centre was approached again which finally gave approval to the Punjab government under Section 12 of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, for re-introduction of gharials in Harike Wildlife Sanctuary in September 2014.
“The state Forests and Wildlife Department is all set to initiate re-introduction of gharial in Harike Wildlife Sanctuary after the monsoon season is over. Initially, as many as 10 gharials would be released in Harike Wildlife Sanctuary as a part of ‘Ghariyal Recovery Action Plan’ in the state during September this year,” said the state Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Dhirendra Singh.
Under this plan, the department has envisaged to release nearly 100 gharials during a span of two years, he said. Historical records reveal that ghariyal, one of the three crocodilian species found in India, was formally present in Indus River system including Beas and Satluj Rivers. Old records including district gazetteers mentioned presence of ghariyal in abundance in the rivers of Punjab, and last ghariyal was shot in 1968 in Beas river.
Ghariyal may become a flagship species for Harike Wildlife Sanctuary and a successful re-introduction programme would surely boost the tourism prospects in the region and has ample potential to attract national and international tourists per year as in Gir or Kanha National Park, said the spokesperson.