Staff Reporter
BHUBANESWAR: After a face-off between Greenpeace and Orissa Government over Dhamra Port issue, the environment pressure group welcomed the latter’s decision to allocate Rs. 2 crore for improved marine patrolling to protect the endangered Olive Ridley Turtles.
The State Government officially sought central assistance for utilizing to procure fast patrolling boats to check illegal fishing by mechanised boat, which was laudable, Greenpeace said in a statement.
It said, illegal fishing and especially trawling resulted in the death of over 100,000 turtles over the last decade. “We are happy to note that the Orissa Government has responded positively to our proposal. This decision takes cognizance of Supreme Court orders on the patrolling and enforcement of no-trawling zones, and is a first step in the right direction”, said Sanjiv Gopal, Oceans Campaigner, Greenpeace India.
The department had earlier failed to utilise a fund provided for protection of turtles.
