May 2018

Launch of “Status Report” and “Ganga Prahari -database” on 22nd May 2018

On the occasion of the International Day for Biological Diversity on 22^nd May, 2018 a workshop “Ganga and its Biodiversity: Developing a Road Map for Habitat and Species Conservation” was jointly organized by NMCG-WWF, in New Delhi. During this workshop, the Chief Guest Hon’ble Cabinet Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari released two publications prepared by the Ganga Aqaulife Conservation Monitoring Centre, Wildlife Institute of India i.e. “Macro Fauna of the Ganga River: Status and Conservation of Select Species”, and “Ganga River – State of Biodiversity at a Glance”.

The Hon’ble Minister also launched the database of Ganga Prahari - the cadre of self-motivated and trained volunteers from five Ganga States. This database has been hosted at the NMCG’s website (nmcg.nic.in) and will be managed from the Wildlife Institute of India. This cadre has been created under the community participation model by community based conservation component of ‘Biodiversity Conservation and Ganga Rejuvenation’ project. This database includes personal information of all Ganga Praharis such as age, gender, educational qualification, occupation, skills and interests besides expedient details of their contact. Details on the number of activities such as awareness meetings, training workshops conducted for Ganga Praharis and onsite activities conducted by these Ganga Praharis have also been listed. All the organizations associated with National Mission for Clean Ganga can access this information through NMCG and WII website.

Shri U.P Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation; Shri Rajeev Ranjan Mishra, Director General, National Mission for Clean Ganga, Shri Rajiv Kishore, Executive Director (Administration), National Mission for Clean Ganga; Shri Ravi Singh, CEO, WWF-India, and other eminent policy planners, scientists and conservationists representing NMCG, WWF, TSA, CEE graced the occasion. About 40 Ganga Mitras and Ganga Praharis from five Ganga River states, were also present on the occasion. The project personnel of the ‘Biodiversity Conservation and Ganga Rejuvenation’ also participated in the workshop.

Last Updated: March 12, 2019

Visit of Director General, National Mission for Clean Ganga to WII

Shri Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, Director General, National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG); Shri Rozy Agarwal, Executive Director (Finance), NMCG; Shri Avinash D. Ghushe, OSD, Minister (MoWR, RD, GR); Shri Praveen Kumar, Director (Technical); Dr. Raghav Langar, Project Director, State Project Management Group, Uttarakhand and Dr. Sandeep Behera, Biodiversity Consultant, NMCG, visited Wildlife Institute of India, on 18^th April 2018. Aim of the visit was to appraise the activities carried out under the "Biodiversity Conservation and Ganga Rejuvenation" project. The project "Biodiversity Conservation and Ganga Rejuvenation" is an integral part NMCG’s vision for Ganga Rejuvenation by restoring Ganga’s ecological integrity.

The WII-NMCG project team members comprising of the faculty and project personnel participated in the meeting.

The dignitaries were welcomed by Dr. Ruchi Badola, Scientist-G, WII and were felicitated with Rudraksh sapling and framed photographs of the priority aquatic species of the Ganga River. After the felicitation ceremony, Dr. S.A. Hussain, Scientist-G, WII gave a brief introduction about the establishment, mission, objective and structure of the Wildlife Institute of India. He presented an overview of the "Biodiversity Conservation and Ganga Rejuvenation" project, related to its inception, aim, objectives, components and the activities that have been completed and are ongoing. The dignitaries were also shown the relevant and key publications: brochures, books and reports related to the project.

Shri Rajiv Ranjan Mishra and other dignitaries were appreciative about the activities carried out under the project. Shri Rajiv Ranjan Mishra appreciated the concept of Ganga Prahari and capacity building activities carried out for different stakeholders. He was pleased with the brochures, booklets and reports published so far and was impressed with the use of digital media, print media and social media for creating awareness amongst the public regarding aquatic diversity of the Ganga River and Ganga rejuvenation. Shri Rajiv Ranjan Mishra concluded that integration and a holistic approach is the key for the rejuvenation of the Ganga River.

After the meeting, the dignitaries were taken on a brief tour to the Ganga Aqualife Conservation Monitoring Centre (GACMC), the laboratories, and the newly built UNESCO C2C building in the WII premises.