National Dolphin Research Centre to be set up in Patna: DyCM

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi Friday said the 'National Dolphin Research Centre' will be set up at Patna University premises here.

He said the foundation stone of the centre would be laid by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar soon.

"The work for setting up of National Dolphin Research Centre will soon start. The centre will be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 28 crore in Patna University premises. CM Nitish Kumar will lay the foundation stone for the centre very soon," the deputy chief minister said.

He was speaking at a function organised on the occasion of 'dolphin day' at Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, Patna.

The state government observes October 5 as 'Dolphin Day' in Bihar for protection and conservation of Gangetic river dolphin to create awareness to save the endangered species.

A survey would be conducted by three prestigious institutions to ascertain the availability of dolphins and their numbers in river Ganga between Chausa and Sahebganj from November 15 to December 15, 2018, he said adding that the exercise would be completed at an estimated cost of Rs 42.72 lakh.

The DyCM, who also holds charge of Environment and Forest department, said that an observatory is being constructed at Munger from where one could see dolphin.

A film is also being made on dolphin at a cost of Rs 10 lakh, he said adding that dolphin protection-cum incentive programme is being launched in order to reward those who would save dolphins.

"We have not received any report of dolphin death in past one year," he said while making a fervent appeal to people to "save dolphin".

The government is spending Rs 15 crore every year on the development of Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR), he said.

The deputy chief minister said that the numbers of tigers have increased in the VTR from 8-10 tigers in the year 2007 to 35 tigers in 2018.

Tourist facilities have been made available at VTR where people can go to watch tigers, he added.