Munger: The new Gangetic Dolphin Sighting Camp constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 50 lakh near the banks of the Ganga at Sojhi Ganga Ghat in the Munger headquarters is attracting a large number of tourists from across the state.

According to the data of the Munger office of the environment and forest department, 12,000 tourists visited the camp since December 1, 2017.

The number of tourists has been increasing every day at the Munger Dolphin Sighting Centre at Munger. People from other states also visit this place in groups. Now the place is buzzing with activities," said Neeraj Narayan, divisional forest officer (DFO), Munger.

Meanwhile, the tourism department of Bihar has accepted the request of the Munger department of the environment and forests to provide a motorboat to the Munger Dolphin Sighting Centre to facilitate tourists and visitors to go near and see the dolphins in the middle of the Ganga. The centre will soon get a motor boat.

"Besides, five fishermen are being trained by the forest department officials to drive the tourists' boat near the dolphins in the lap of the Ganga and return safely with them after the dolphin-sighting events," Neeraj added.

"There is a plan in which tourists will be sitting in the motorboat to enjoy the fascinating view of dolphins leaping out of the water. The department has named the trained fishermen "Dolphin Guides" and "Motorboat drivers". The department also intends to strengthen the financial condition of those fishermen. The trained fishermen will become Dolphin Guides and take the responsibility of bringing tourists to the camp safely," the DFO added.

"Whenever I visit Munger along with college friends, I enjoy dolphins' leaping out of the water," said Shitanshu Shekhar (29), a student of MSc in TNB College, Bhagalpur.

"Slogans with colourful pictures are making visitors aware about the conservation of dolphins, trees, forests, water and the girl," said Shitashu Shekhar, a resident of Chenpura (Saharsa).

Om Prakash, 28, a student from the Shashtri Nagar locality of Munger town said: "To create awareness about dolphins in a pictorial way is praiseworthy. It is the need of the hour."

Neeraj said: "Visitors learn lessons from slogans inscribed on the walls of the dolp hin camp. Slogans such as Save Dolphins, Save Trees, Save Forests, Save Water and Save Girl child are inspiring and motivating. Pictures of dolphins playing under water are also appealing. The slogan, 'You have no future without me. Let me live' on the conservation of trees says a lot."

"Around 2,000 to 2,400 Gangetic dolphins are found in India while around 700 dolphins are found in the flow of the Ganga in the Munger district's stretch," the DFO added.