The increase in shipping traffic would devastate the offshore turtle congregations and the increased illumination in the night would disorient turtle hatchlings and prevent them from finding their way to the sea after they hatch. Adults also rely on light cues for directional orientation.
Recent studies have shown aggregations of nesting turtles 6 km. offshore and 12 km. south of Gahirmatha. This is probably just a small fraction of the total population and there will be other aggregations both south and north of Gahirmatha. The presence or absence of these must be confirmed before large scale maritime traffic is allowed to trash the area.
The Environment Impact Assessment report conducted for the project has neglected these aspects. And since the assessment was undertaken in the month of August - not the breeding season - it is difficult to understand how it could reflect the true ecological value of the area.
The project is reported to be worth Rs. 1,200 crore and is being promoted by International Seaports Ltd. of Singapore, with the participation of ICICI and Larsen and Toubro. The port will be an all-weather, deep water, modern bulk terminal port, occupying 900 acres with a total shipping berth of 500 m. Other land development associated with the project will occupy another 3000 acres, all within the proposed park extension.
Under the Coastal Regulation Zone Rules no formal clearance is required for the expansion of an existing port or harbour. The Orissa State Government has used this legal loophole, claiming that a port existed at Dhamra in the 19th and early part of the 20th centuries! On this basis, the Ministry of Surface Transport granted clearance for the project in January 2000.
When the Bhitarkanika National Park was constituted in 1988, it covered 367 sq. km. However, this was reduced to 145 sq. km. in the final notification in September 1998, excluding ecologically important areas such as the site of the proposed Dhamra port. Not surprisingly, this was soon after the state government had entered into the Dhamra construction contract with International Seaports Ltd.
In recent months, the Orissa Government, with NGOs such as the Wildlife Protection Society of India and the Wildlife Society of Orissa have put in commendable effort to protect the turtles. Such action is in the national interest and any steps to destroy this natural heritage must be thwarted.
Since the presence of olive Ridleys in the waters off the port site is not disputed, the next step must be the cancellation of plans to construct this port at Dhamra. And if better sense does not prevail, perhaps the next step must be both, an international campaign against the project and preparation to find redress from the Supreme Court.
Â
