In a bid to determine the population of aquatic life, including that of endangered Gangetic dolphin, the Central government has launched the first ever across-the-river survey.

According to the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), the survey will help create a baseline scientific data for the Centre to take suitable measures to improve the quality of the river water.

All about the across-the-river survey:

The first leg of the census was launched on March 1 from Narora in Uttar Pradesh to Bijnor (covering a distance of about 165 km) to establish the number of the national aquatic animal

The survey in the Allahabad to Varanasi stretch (close to 250 km) is expected to be launched this week

The survey will also find out stretches where dolphin is habitating, besides conditions of their habitations

The survey will also seek to ascertained number of ghariyals and turtles in the river after the summer set in fully as their nesting happens then and the counting will continue until October this year

Apart from populace count, the study will also help in knowing the distribution pattern of aquatic life in the river, extent of threat level they are facing and their habitat conditions

Wetlands and floodplains would also be covered during the survey once the monsoon sets in. A similar census would be conducted in the Ganga's tributaries after its mainstream is covered

A study to figure out fish species' composition in the 2,525 km river has also been kick-started from Harshil in Uttarakhand. The authority is conducting the survey through Dehra Dun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) under the Namami Gange programme

The WII has been roped in to coordinate with the forest departments of Ganga basin states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. Besides, eight NGOs involved in bio-monitoring activities have also joined the study.

--With inputs from PTI

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