Why in News?

• A proposal in this regard was recently sent to the state government by the deputy conservator of forest (wildlife) of the National Chambal Sanctuary project.

About National Chambal Sanctuary:

• National Chambal Sanctuary, also called the National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary, is a 5,400 sq. km tri-state protected riverine sanctuary along 425 km length of the Chambal River and ravines.
• Location: It lies at the tri-junction of three states Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
• The main focus of the sanctuary is to protect the critically endangered Gharial, Red-crowned roof turtle & endangered Ganges dolphin.
• Chambal supports the largest population of Gharials in the wild.
• It is listed as an important bird area (IBA).
• Topography: The topography is full of ravines, hills & sandy beaches.
• Vegetation: It is part of the Kathiar-Gir dry deciduous forest ecoregion.
• Other Fauna:
  • Other animals which are also in the Threatened category like mugger crocodile, smooth-coated otters, Striped Hyena & Indian wolfs are also found here.
  • Chambal River support 8 out of 26 rare species of turtle family like Indian narrow-headed soft-shell turtle, three- striped roof turtle & crowned river turtle. 
  • Mammals are also seen, which include Sambhar deer, Neel Gai (blue bull), Indian gazelle, Rhesus Monkey, Hanuman Langur, Indian grey & small Asian mongoose, Bengal Fox etc.

Key facts about the Chambal River:

• It is one of the tributaries of the Yamuna River and the most pollution-free river in India.
• It originates at the Singar Chouri peak on the northern slopes of the Vindhya mountains.
• On its south, east and west, the basin is bounded by the Vindhyan mountain ranges and on the northwest by the Aravallis.
• The Hadauti plateau in Rajasthan occurs in the upper catchment of the Chambal River to the southeast of the Mewar Plains.
• Tributaries: Banas, Kali Sindh, Sipra, Parbati, etc.
• Major Dams on the River: Gandhi Sagar Dam, Rana Pratap Sagar Dam, Jawahar Sagar Dam.