Chandigarh, May 12 -- The long-pending desilting project of the Beas River in Punjab, aimed at preventing floods and ensuring the smooth flow of rainwater, has hit a roadblock due to ecological concerns linked to the habitat of critically endangered gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) and the endangered Indus river dolphins inhabiting the river stretch.

Flowing across nearly 185km through Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala districts, the Beas River is one of Punjab's most ecologically sensitive freshwater ecosystems.

The river was declared a Conservation Reserve in 2017 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and later designated a Ramsar site in 2019 owing to its rich biodiversity.

Following a study conducted by the Indian...