NGT Directs Urgent Biosecurity Measures: Native Fish Restoration Mandated for Yamuna River Ecosystem

The National Green Tribunal has issued a decisive directive to Delhi and neighboring states, mandating immediate action to restore native fish populations and curb invasive exotic species in the Yamuna River. This intervention follows alarming ecological survey data revealing a significant decline in indigenous species—including Catla, Rohu, Mahseer, and Eel—while invasive species such as Common Carp, Nile Tilapia, and Thai Mangur proliferate, particularly in polluted river segments. The Tribunal's order underscores a critical biosecurity imperative: invasive species not only disrupt aquatic biodiversity but also compromise ecosystem resilience and water quality. This directive represents a formal recognition of the Yamuna's ecological crisis, linking species displacement directly to anthropogenic pollution and inadequate regulatory oversight. Implementation will require coordinated state-level strategies, including habitat restoration, pollution control, and stringent monitoring of aquaculture practices. The NGT's mandate positions native species conservation as a non-negotiable component of river rehabilitation, signaling a shift toward evidence-based ecological governance in India's environmental policy framework.