India's River Interlinking Project May Spread Invasive Species, Warns Study

A recent ATREE study published in Scientific Reports warns that India's National River-Linking Project could create ecological highways for invasive alien species.

Researchers found that the Lower Ganga basin hosts 13-15 invasive species and could act as a major source of biological invasion for the Mahanadi river basin.

The study notes that water connections could also spread aquatic pathogens, disrupt fish migration, and threaten endemic species across vulnerable peninsular basins.