• The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in the second phase of its survey of the entire main stem of the Ganga river (the main river without its tributaries), has found that 49 per cent of the river has high biodiversity and that biodiversity sightings, including of the Gangetic Dolphin and otters, have increased in the river. 
• Scientist at the institute say that this indicates reducing pollution levels and a healthier state of the river.

Findings of the report :-

• 10% of high biodiversity areas fall alongside national parks and sanctuaries such as Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand, Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh and Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary, Bihar.
• The high biodiversity stretches have been divided into six zones – Devprayag to Rishikesh (61 kms), Makdumpur to Narora (147 kms), Bhitaura to Ghazipur (454 kms), Chhapra to Kahalgaon (296 kms), Sahibganj to Rajmahal (34 kms) and Baharampur to Barrackpore (246 kms).

About river ganga :-

• Ganga and its tributaries flows through 11 states and covers 26.3 % of the country’s Total Geographical area.
• It flows through five states – Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal