Patna: A fortnight-long training programme on Gangetic dolphin conservation got underway here on Wednesday.

The programme has been organised by the Patna regional office of the Zoological Survey of India to create a pool of master trainers who will not only work as conservation personnel but also train others.

Twenty-two youths from Bihar, Bengal, Jharkhand and Kerala are taking part in the training programme. They will be imparted knowledge on topics such as traits of dolphins, their geographical distribution, and conservation measures. The trainees will also be taken for field visits.

At the inauguration of the training programme, Gangetic dolphin expert R.K. Sinha said the aquatic animal was of special importance to the country and its mention has been found in the fifth stone edict of Emperor Asoka.

Sinha also underlined the need to address the river pollution problem.

Zoological Survey of India's chief in Patna, Gopal Sharma, said the training had been organised under the green skill development programme which aimed to create a pool of 5.5 lakh trained personnel by 2021 in the country on 32 aspects of conservation work.

He said that experts from different fields would be invited during the training programme for imparting best possible knowledge to the trainees whose selection had been made on the basis of personal interviews.

A mobile App GSDP-ENVIS has also been developed using which the interested youths can apply for various training programmes to be conducted under green skill development programme.

Addressing participants at the inaugural event, Sharma said that the skill gained in the training programme would give confidence to the trainees in taking up works related to wildlife conservation works.