New Delhi (PTI): The Environment Ministry has shot down a Rajasthan government's proposal to construct a series of hydropower dams on Chambal river noting that it will prove disastrous for the highly endangered dolphins and crocodiles besides aquatic bird species found in the region.

The refusal came after a two-member team comprising wildlife experts Ranjitsinh and BC Choudhary from Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in their report said that the proposed four hydro dams would destroy half of the Chambal sanctuary on the river which demarcates the border of MP, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The river is also home for Gangetic river dolphins and crocodiles.

The issue had come up for discussion at a recent meeting of the standing committee of the National Board of Wildlife chaired by Environment Minister S Raghupathy.

To stress the negative impact of the proposed dams, the members in the report also highlighted that the three already existing such hydropower projects on the river had wiped out dolphins, turtle and crocodiles in the surrounding areas.

Rajasthan had sought construction of four Hydropower projects on Chambal river under its Chambal development scheme to meet the power needs of the nearby villages.