The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) will undertake a workshop cum Pad Yatra for biodiversity conservation and rejuvenation of the Ganga river. Under the Namami Gange programme of the Union Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, the WII has been accorded the task of conducting a project on biodiversity conservation and Ganga rejuvenation.
Ecological, multi-faceted and correctional measures will be taken as part of this project for finding solution to challenges faced in enabling free and pure flow in the Ganga.
As part of its efforts to develop a broad vision for conservation of biodiversity, the institute has started work on cooperation for conservation of the decreasing acquatic biodiversity of the Ganga river.
As part of these efforts, the WII will organise a workshop on May 30 at the Sangam Ghat in Devprayag for students of various colleges and university.
On the following day at the same venue, a one-day workshop will be held for stakeholders involving those in vicinity of the upper streams of the Ganga.
Officials, public representatives, representatives of temple management committee and different business fraternities will be involved in this workshop on May 31.
On June 1 a sensitisation workshop will be held involving the people living in villages settled on the banks of the Ganga river.
June 1 will also be marked by the inauguration of the Ganga biodiversity march from the Sangam Ghat in Devprayag where the Ganga river is formed.
This Pad Yatra will conclude at the Triveni Ghat in Rishikesh on June 9.
There will be two groups involved in this activity. One of the groups will conduct a survey for study on the condition of aquatic fauna and the biodiversity of Ganga river.
The second group will organise awareness generation meetings with villagers settled along the Ganga river to delve on the role of community participation in the conservation of the Ganga.
During this Pad Yatra, the institute will also assess the social-economic condition and means of livelihood in the areas covered by the event.
Attempts will also be made to facilitate the needful to find alternate and better means of livelihood for the stakeholders.