Ramblings of Souri

Environmentalists and turtle lovers here are up in arms against the Marine Science department of Berhampur University for a report it has prepared for Reliance Industries Limited (RIL).The report goes contrary to the findings of a Central Empowered Committee (CEC) constituted by the Supreme Court which stated that the proposed Reliance gas handling work in MD-10 block of Bay of Bengal would harm the turtles visiting Rushikulya estuary.According to reports, RIL last year signed an MoU with the State Government to explore oil and natural gas in MD-10 block of Bay of Bengal, 60 km from Rushikulya estuary and 75 km from Devi estuary. It had asked the Marine Science department to prepare a report on the movement of turtles in Dhamra, Devi and Rushikulya estuaries to ensure that their work does not harm the Olive Ridleys.The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report submitted by the university in January last gave green signal to RIL to explore and exploit (E&E) natural gas off the Orissa coast.The report prepared after a series of studies and surveys stated that the endangered Olive Ridley turtles, which congregate on the coast every year for nesting, are unlikely to be affected by the E&E activities of RIL. But the environmentalists are not convinced, especially, when the CEC had suggested RIL to shift its proposed location.As per the department’s report, the RIL activities will be far off from the coast. “The proposed exploration will be at least 30 km from the coast and beyond the critical habitat of turtles,” it stated.“Despite extensive observations through deployment of various kinds of vessels for a period of over five months, no mass movement of turtles was noticed in the offshore areas,” the report pointed out.The department had, however, recommended that a comprehensive study on the offshore activities of the endangered species could be taken up by some reputed organisations of the country as all the survey works undertaken were based on the near and on shore activities of turtles.But the environmentalists are not bothered only about the offshore activities of turtles. According to them, the report makes no mention about how the turtles reach their destination. The turtles swim through thousands of kilometres to reach the rookery and the study has failed to cover that aspect, they allege.This apart, the study has ignored the aspect of oil slicks which are detrimental to marine life. Oil slicks do not get dissolved in water and can be carried ashore through winds, waves, currents and tides.The refraction of waves in Bay of Bengal is usually towards the Orissa coast during monsoon. Hence the possible oil slick formed off the coast will be detrimental to the Olive Ridleys, fish and other marine species, they argue. Besides, the oil slicks may even block or disturb the routes of the Olive Ridleys, they add.The environmentalists have now urged the RIL authorities to conduct a study on the coastal and offshore currents by involving experts from reputed organisations of the country for a more accurate report.“Besides, the department should prepare another detailed report and make it public,” they demand. Some environmentalists are also contemplating to file a Public Interest Litigation before the Orissa High Court. Meanwhile, sources in the Marine Science department maintained that the report was prepared covering all relevant aspects.