https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969724051490

11th June 2024, Gaya

International Hybrid Symposium on Changing Status of Ecosystem Health of the River Ganga: An Update and Review” was organized by the Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management Society, South and South East Asia Chapter, in collaboration with Central University of South Bihar, ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow, Vigyan Bharti (Bihar Prant), and Unnat Bharat Abhiyan- University of Delhi.  The hybrid symposium was conducted on June 10-11, 2024, at the Centre for Himalayan Studies, University of Delhi. The symposium brought together, leading researchers, experts, and scientists from diverse fields working on various aspects of the River Ganga.

The symposium featured keynote lectures, and was chaired by eminent scientists and researchers from different parts of the world, such as Dr. Mohiuddin Munawar (Senior scientist, Fisheries and Ocean, Canada), Dr. Dilip Kumar ( Former Director/VC ICAR- Centre for Inland Fishery Education, India),Prof. Bhupendra Nath Pandey (Retired professor, President of Zoological Society of India), Dr. B. K. Chakraborty (Former Director, Department of Fisheries, Matshya Baboon, Bangladesh), Prof. Shyam Narayan Labh ( Professor, Tribhuvan University, Nepal), Prof. Ram Kumar (Professor, Central University of South Bihar, India), Dr. Uttam Kumar Sarkar (Director, ICAR- National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, India), Prof. Rajesh (Professor, University of Delhi) Nodal Officer Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, Dr. Faiyaz A. Khudsar (Scientist Incharge, Biodiversity Parks Programme, University of Delhi, India), Prof. Jaigopal Sharma (Director, Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University), Prof. B.W. Pandey (Director, Centre for Himalayan Studies), Padmshree Dr. R. K. Sinha (Former Professor, Patna University, India) and Shri K.K. Singh (IFS, APPCF, India).

The symposium had six technical sessions, covering various aspects of research on the River Ganga, including but not limited to ecology, temporal dynamics, water quality, mycology, conservation genomics, and restoration strategies. The technical presenters involved researchers from all parts of India, Nepal, Bangladesh and scientists working Sutlej River in Pakistan also joined the webinar.

The symposium concluded with a panel discussion by experts and all scientists expressed their views on the outcome of deliberations and actions to be taken for the improvment and restoration of the River Ganga. Panelists during the symposium, emphasized the need for multidisciplinary work and collaboration among different institutes and scientists, to assess the changes in the River Ganga. The panel also pointed to the importance of public participation, to enable the restoration of the health of River Ganga. The symposium ended with innovative suggestions from all participants, and a collective vision to work for the improvement of River Ganga. They concluded on constituting a working group on Ganga area of concern (GAOC). They also emphasized the involvement of local people and the public, along with the researchers to work for River Ganga.

Organising team from Central University of South Bihar- Prof. Ram Kumar, Banaja Prakashini Samantaray, Devesh Kumar Yadav, and Abhishek Patel.

Coverage-

 ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Times of India