Whale deaths raise concern over building of Sethu canal

CHENNAI: After 15 months of dredging near the Gulf of Mannar for the Rs 2,400-crore Sethusamudram canal, a new wave of environmental concerns is rising after a reportedly unprecedented spate of whale deaths.

While environmentalists say ten whales were washed ashore in the last nine months because of the dredging, the authorities are making no effort to dispel doubts over the perceived threat to the fragile marine ecosystem. The Gulf of Mannar is home to corals and many rare species of marine flora and fauna including some endangered species.

“The death of ten whales in nine months is alarming, since only 95 whales’ death have been noted in this region during 1841-1945,” says Offie Fernandez of Coastal Action Network, an NGO. “The interference of sonar waves generated by the machines used for marine surveys and dredging could be the cause of death of blue whales, sei whales and sperm whales,” he says.

According to Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park wildlife warden S Shenbagamoorthy, seven whales, a sea cow and a green turtle have beached since April this year. While his office does not have records for the previous years, wildlife department staff in Ramanathapuram says death of 7 whales is unprecedented.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests CK Sreedharan, who has also been the chief wildlife warden till recently, says death of whales is a matter of concern, but one needs to scientifically ascertain the cause before blaming the canal work. Lal Mohan, a member of the Ceatations Specialists Group (an international body of experts on whales and dolphins) says dredging operations could be the possible cause of the deaths.