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River ranching programme commemorates International Day for Biological Diversity 2026 at Daspara Ghat, lower Ganga by ICAR-CIFRI

22^nd May, 2026
Barrackpore, Kolkata

On the occasion of the International Day for Biological Diversity 2026, ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, organized a river ranching programme under the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) Phase-III project at Daspara Ghat of the Lower Ganga on 21 May 2026. The initiative was undertaken to promote conservation of native fish biodiversity, enhance fish stock replenishment, and support sustainable riverine fisheries in the Ganga ecosystem.

The river ranching programme was carried out under the leadership of Dr. S. K. Manna, Project Coordinator of the NMCG (Phase-III) project, in the esteemed presence of the Director of ICAR-CIFRI, Dr. Pradip Dey. The event witnessed active participation from all NMCG Co-Principal Investigators, Divisional Heads, Centre In-charge, scientists, technical personnel, project scholars, administrative staff, and field functionaries of the institute.

As part of the ranching activity, approximately 250 kg of Indian Major Carp (IMC) fingerlings comprising rohu, catla, mrigal, and bata were released into the Lower Ganga. A total of nearly 35,000 fingerlings were ranched during the programme to augment depleted fish populations and strengthen ecological sustainability of the river system.
The event highlighted the significance of biodiversity conservation through scientific stock enhancement programmes and reaffirmed ICAR-CIFRI’s commitment towards restoration and sustainable management of the Ganga riverine ecosystem under the NMCG initiative.