I had been working for conservation of River dolphins or Bulanaji in the river beas in Punjab from 2011 to 2016. I had been campaigning for awarness of this rare species, conservation of the river ecology and creation of a buffer zone.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111219/jal.htm#2
Today is one of the really good days when government finally commit to creation of a biodiversity zone along the entire stretch of the river. That means lots of things.
The strategic decision with regard to biodiversity conservation taken by the board was the creation of a conservation reserve along 185km of the Beas, starting from 52 head Talwara to Harike. "This will mean that commercial fishing will be brought to an end on the Beas stretch in Punjab. Not only will it conserve aquatic biodiversity of a pristine river, but the fish so preserved will enhance the prey base of Indus dolphin and gharials. Fishermen would also poach at Harike by misusing fishing rights; this will now be banned in Beas conservation reserve"
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/reserve-tag-for-siswan-beas-release-for-chhatbir-gharials/articleshow/59606907.cms
The fishermen who will be going out of work have to be trained for ecotourism. An ecotourism model has to be in place, otherwise the mafia which is already very powerful in this area will only grow.
Its only through conserving nature and restoring the lost ecosystems will the revival of punjab truly begin
Region of punjab has been devastated by the intense agriculture practices of the green revolution .
beep beep