Turtle Sanctuary to be set up in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh

The project at an estimated cost of Rs 1.34 crore will include development of River Biodiversity Park at Sangam (confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Sarasvati) and establishment of a Turtle Rearing Centre (permanent nursery at Triveni Pushp and makeshift annual hatcheries).

This project, according to the Ministry of Water Resources, will provide a much needed platform to make visitors aware of their place in the ecosystem, their roles and responsibilities, improve their understanding of the complexity of co-existence with the environment and help generate awareness for reducing the impact of human activities on critical natural resources.

The task of dissipating knowledge about river Ganga will be taken up in this project, which is 100% centrally funded.

The sustenance of more than 2,000 aquatic species, including threatened gharials, dolphins and turtles in river Ganga, exemplifies the rich biodiversity of this lifeline to over 40 per cent of the country’s population.

Rivers Ganga and Yamuna at Allahabad are home to some of the most endangered fauna such as turtles (Batagur kachuga, Batagur dhongoka, Nilssonia gangetica, Chitra indica, Hardella thurjii etc.), the National Aquatic Animal - Gangetic dolphin (Platanista gangetica), the Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) and numerous migratory and resident birds.

Image: UPTourism/website