National Chambal Sanctuary

National Chambal Sanctuary

• Illegal Sand Mining in National Chambal Sanctuary

About National Chambal Sanctuary

• The National Chambal Sanctuary, located at the trijunction of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and
  Uttar Pradesh.

• It is important breeding ground for gharials – fish-eating crocodiles.
• India has three species of Crocodiles :
  • Gharial : IUCN Red List- Critically Endangered
  • Mugger crocodile : IUCN- Vulnerable.
  • Saltwater crocodile : IUCN- Least Concern.
  • All the three are listed on Appendix I of CITES and Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection)
  • Act, 1972.
  • Exception: Saltwater Crocodile populations of Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea are included in Appendix II of CITES.

Illegal Sand Mining

• Sand is classified as a “minor mineral”.
• Administrative control over minor minerals vests with the State Governments.
• Issues
  ▪ Water Scarcity
  ▪ Floods
  ▪ Encroachment on public land
  ▪ Loss of Biodiversity .

Practice Questions for Prelims

Consider the following statements about Gharials:
1.Gharials are endemic to the Indian sub-continent
2.They are generally found in freshwater
3. It has been listed as “Critically Endangered” by IUCN   Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1 and 3 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1,2 and 3

Ans. d)

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