The government has approved a new project to protect breeding habitats of sandbar-nesting birds, including the Indian Skimmer, for the conservation of endangered bird species in the Ganga basin. The project was approved during the 68th meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) in New Delhi today.

The project is a first-of-its-kind initiative focusing on Avifauna and will complement NMCG’s work on Dolphins, fish, and turtles, among others. In line with Namami Gange Mission-2, the project focuses on long-term monitoring, community participation, and evidence-based conservation. Nest monitoring will continue in the Chambal and Lower Ganga and will be initiated in Bijnor, Narora, and Prayagraj.

Trained local communities will help protect sensitive sandbars, reduce human disturbance, and support awareness and capacity-building initiatives. The meeting was chaired by Director General, NMCG, Rajeev Kumar Mittal. The focus of the meeting included ecological restoration of the river, biodiversity conservation, innovations through Nature-based Solutions, conservation of rich cultural heritage and facilitating prompt execution of infrastructure projects.