Indian Prime Minister Shares Environmental Stories on Mann Ki Baat

In the 134th episode of Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted two powerful environmental stories that showcase India’s growing commitment to river conservation and wildlife protection.

The first story centres on the remarkable rescue of an endangered Ganga river dolphin in Uttar Pradesh, where a viral video captured a meticulous 13-hour operation to save the dolphin trapped in a canal.

The rescue team carefully retrieved the animal, conducted a medical examination, provided treatment, and safely released it back into the Rapti River.

Central to this success was India’s first dedicated Dolphin Rescue Ambulance, a mobile hospital developed under the Namami Gange program. 

Launched in January 2026 by India’s Ministry of Jal Shakti, the Dolphin Rescue Ambulance is to provide life-saving response for Ganga dolphins in distress.

Equipped with oxygen support, specialised stretchers, and rescue gear, the ambulance functions as a mobile intensive care unit, drastically improving survival rates for distressed river dolphins.

Modi called the vehicle a “ray of hope” for this endangered species and emphasised that the rescue symbolises our collective responsibility toward nature and biodiversity.

In the second story, the Prime Minister highlighted concerns about grassroots river-cleaning movements. He praised citizens across India who have transformed river conservation into a mass movement. 

Notably, he recognised the efforts of Akash Gupta of Basti, who was deeply worried by the sight of his village’s Manorama River, which held fond childhood memories for him. 

Over time, plastic began accumulating in the river, and the filth increased. Akash decided not to complain, but to make a new beginning. “The determination to make a difference” became his mantra. 

Akash, along with his friends, waded through the river, removed water hyacinth, and collected plastic and other garbage. Sometimes they removed 50-60 kilograms of garbage from the river in a single day.

Over time, a section of the Manorama River began to look clean again, drawing the attention of people in the surrounding area and generating awareness of cleanliness.

Modi also acknowledged the efforts of Balkrishna Aiya, a retired teacher from Goa, who played a key role in laying pipelines that enabled access to clean drinking water for many homes in the Maddi-Tolap area. 

Together, these stories illustrate India’s dual focus: protecting iconic aquatic species like the Ganga dolphin while mobilising citizens to clean and revive rivers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s acknowledgement of these environmental stories in Mann Ki Baat reinforces the message that environmental conservation is everyone’s duty, achievable through determination, innovation, and collective action.