Religious: Wildlife activists are afraid of the septama processing plant proposed in Palibandh, near the estuary of the Rushikulya River in Ganjam may spell disaster for the second-largest rookers of Ridley’s endangered olive turtles.
Thousands of Ridley Olive visited a five-km sandy beach from Purunababdh to Podampeta in the Ganjam district for nesting the masses every year.
This site is considered the second largest mass nesting site from Ridley Olives in this country after Gahiramatha in the Kendrapada district.
Ganjam Regional Council Notification (NAC) has started the construction of the RS 2 Crore processing plant near the mouth of the river.
The local tehsil office has identified land for factories, said source.
“The proposed factory will create obstacles to Ridley Olives to visit the area,” said Rabindra Nath Sahu, Secretary, Ganjam District Turtle Protection Committee.
“Every activity near the rookery will create obstacles in nesting the mass of the Olive Ridley Turtles,” said Biswantit Mohanty, a wildlife activist.
“The construction of the proposed factory will also violate the zone norms of coastal regulations (CRZ), which prohibit construction within 500 meters on the beach,” he added.
Mohanty urged the Government of Ganjam to stop construction activities in the proposed location and to drain alternative places for plants.
Division forest officers (DFO) were mixed, Amwan Nayak, said they would verify the place before making a comment.
Executive officer Ganjam NAC, Ronit Kumar said the proposed site did not violate CRZ norms because it was located far from the beach.
“The proposed factory will also be far from the mass nesting site from Zaitun Ridley Turtles,” Kumar said.
“Despite the reality, we will once again consult with scientists from the Odisha state pollution control agency (OSPCB) and mixed with DFO before making a last call and to improve the awareness of environmental prevention and wildlife activists,” he added.
“The land has not been alo already in the name of the Civic body.
Only Leveling Work and Sand Casting which began after the local Teach Office agreed to disability and record it for the proposed plant,” Kumar said.