Protest against oil project in Orissa

Protest against oil project in Orissa
Bijoy Pradhan

BHUBANESWAR, JANUARY 6: The Wildlife Society of Orissa has strongly objected to a proposed crude oil terminal to be set up by Bharat Petroleum Corporation at Kantiagada village, near Rushikulya river mouth in Ganjam district.

Filing its objection in response to a public notice by the Orissa State Pollution Control Board on the proposed project, the society said the Rushikulya river mouth is an ecologically sensitive area as it is the nesting and breeding ground of endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles.

Secretary of the society Biswajit Mohanty stated the environment impact assessment (EIA) report, prepared by the National Institute of Oceanography of Goa, has totally overlooked the presence of the Olive Ridley sea turtles, a protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora.

He said the report has also failed to point out that the proposed site is the breeding and nesting ground of sea turtles and the possible impactof the project on the endangered species. A survey conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India in 1994 has recorded the importance of the Rushikulya river mouth as a major turtle nesting area.

The EIA report is also not clear on the geographical path of the pipeline through which crude oil is to be pumped to Uttar Pradesh, Mohanty said. He said the Olive Ridleys are already under threat in the state due to illegal trawling in restricted fishing areas and the proposed project would further aggravate the situation.

Besides, there is a proposal to set up two wildlife sanctuaries near the river mouth. The proposed Palur Wildlife Sanctuary, awaiting government notification, includes part of Chilka as well as the ecological feature of Palur canal. This canal acts as a vital water channel between Chilka lake and Rushikulya river, Mohanty said.

The State Wildlife Advisory Board has strongly recommended the creation of Rushikulya-Magarmukh Marine Sanctuary within which Kantiagada village falls.The WildlifeSociety has demanded a fresh EIA study of the project before the Pollution Control Board gives environmental clearance to the proposed project.