In the early '90's, environmentalists of the desolate island located at the mouth of river Baitarani, had opposed the setting up of defence base by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) saying that it will endanger the Olive Ridley turtles. The Ekakulanasi island in Gahirmatha, the largest rookery of the Olive Ridley turtles is less than one kilometer away from the defence base. Environmentalists maintained that defence activities will scare away the delicate turtles who come to Gahirmatha in lakhs in the nesting season between November and March.

Home Secretary Ajit Tripathy said the island situated some 150 kms south of Chandipur, the site of the interim test range (ITR), is ideally suitable for defence activities. Besides, it was also out ofbounds for the State journalists who, on earlier occasions, used to cover the test firing of Agni-I from Chandipur launch pad, he added.

On earlier occasions the Government was involved in the evacuation of villagers within a radius of 3.5 kilometers from the ITR at Chandipur but this time there was no need for evacuation, Tripathy said.

Meanwhile, noted environmentalist Banka Behari Das has thanked the chief of DRDO Dr A P J Abul Kalam for scheduling the test firing of the missile after the nesting season of the Olive Ridley turtle was over. Talking to The Indian Express, Das said that Kalam had kept his word of not carrying out the test during the nesting season.

Das had written a letter to Kalam in December, 1998 protesting against the test firing of missiles from the Wheeler island as it would endanger the turtles. And Kalam, on his part, had promised him that no testing will be conducted during the nesting season.