Crocodile sanctuary in the offing: Jairam Ramesh

CHENNAI: The central government will set up a crocodile sanctuary spread over 1,600 sq km near the Chambal river to protect the species, union Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh said on Monday.

The Chambal river flows through Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

According to him, a gharial protection authority would also be set up in the three states at an outlay of Rs.8 crore.

Ramesh visited the Madras Crocodile Bank, around 40 km from here, and said there were around 200 breeding adult gharials in the country which were facing extinction.

The idea for a sanctuary for gharials was first mooted by the founder of Madras Crocodile Bank Romulus Whitaker.

He also said that dolphin would soon be declared as endangered marine species.