Turtle nesting makes Orissa seek ban on missile-testing

After India successfully tested Agni-III from the Wheeler’s Island off the Orissa coast on Sunday, the Orissa government on Tuesday lodged a protest with the Centre against launching missiles from the site from November to May.

“We have written a letter to the Union ministry of environment to issue directives to the defence ministry not to conduct missile tests from the island during this period. The site is close to Gahirmatha — the mass nesting ground of Olive Ridley turtles,” PN Padhi, principal conservator of forest (wildlife), said.

“Launching any missile during this period would have an adverse impact on the endangered turtles. The mating season is about to start. We are not opposed to missile-testing per se, but any kind of testing in this season will lead to some kind of ecological disorder,” said Padhi.

The state fears that continued testing would also have an impact on the movement of the turtles who travel long distances to lay eggs. The turtles may stop coming, said officials. The mass mating and nesting of turtles generally takes place from November to May.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is planning to test an interceptor missile and a series of Agni missiles in February and March. The Centre has already appealed to the DRDO for masking the high-power light at its intermediary test range centre located at Wheeler’s Island. There is a fear that Olive Ridley turtles might get distracted by bright light during mass nesting.

Expressing concern, Biswajit Mohanty, secretary, Orissa Wildlife Society said: “The government is not at all serious. The smoke, gas and light from missiles would have an impact on the life cycle of turtles.”