The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has turned its attention to the concerning reduction in the population of Indian major carps and other indigenous fish species in the River Yamuna. Acting on its own initiative, the tribunal registered the issue as an original application following a media report and issued notices to the concerned authorities.
The Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), Prayagraj, responding to the tribunal’s notice, flagged several factors contributing to the decline, including the proliferation of invasive species, worsening habitat conditions, and unchecked pollution levels.
To address these challenges, CIFRI proposed a series of corrective measures. These include enforcing bans on illegal fishing equipment, strengthening surveillance during restricted fishing periods, and adopting targeted fish restocking strategies to rehabilitate native populations.
In parallel, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) submitted a report detailing subpar water quality across various segments of the Yamuna. Out of 32 monitoring points along the river, six failed to meet the prescribed water quality standards for supporting wildlife and fisheries, underscoring the river’s environmental distress.
Recognizing the gravity of the matter, the NGT’s Principal Bench, led by Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Judicial Member Arun Kumar Tyagi, and Expert Member Dr. A. Senthil Vel, expanded the scope of the proceedings. It directed notices to the Secretaries of the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and the Ministry of Jal Shakti, making them additional respondents. Both ministries have been given four weeks to present their responses, with the next hearing scheduled for March 5, 2025.
The NGT emphasized the need for immediate intervention to arrest the ecological decline of the Yamuna, reflecting its commitment to preserving the river’s biodiversity and ecological integrity.