The setting up of a waste treatment by the Ganjam NAC at Puranabandha Lankapahada, near the Rushikulya river mouth in Ganjam coast violating the Coastal Zone Regulations has triggered massive resentment among locals.
Residents of five villages have threatened to begin protests if their demand to relocate the plant is not met.
Local Honorary Wildlife Warden and environmentalist Rabindra Nath Sahu said plant is being set up in an area of two acres about 50 metres from the river mouth.
The CR regulations states that no construction can be carried out in 200 metre from the coast.Besides, no Palli Sabha or Gramya Sabha was conducted and the local people consulted before carrying out construction by the NAC. The plant would affect the livelihood of hundreds of fishermen of the local villages, who are dependent on the Rushilaya for fishing, Sahu said.
“A jetty is located near the construction site and due to the foul smell emanating from the plant, the fishermen would be affected due to the resultant air pollution and the jetty functioning would be affected. The women Self Help Group members also use the area to dry the fish. So they would also be hit. The fishermen would also face problems in drying their nets,” Sahu added. The plant would affect the annual nesting of lakhs of olive ridley turtles in the Rushikulya river mouth. More than 323,000 Olive Ridley had nested en masse in the stretch from Purunabandh to Bateswara, near the Rushikulya river mouth from March 21 to 28, 2020, If the river mouth is polluted by the plant they would skip the area. Besides, the light from the plant would also prevent them from nesting in the area, he said.Besides, the olive ridleys, the river mouth is also considered a spot for dolphin sighting and thousands of tourists flock the area. Humpback and bottle-nose species of dolphins are seen in the area. The Forest Department officials have submitted a proposal to the State Government for conservation and protection of dolphins in the area.The poisonous effluents from the plant would affect the marine life and fishermen would be affected due to water pollution.
Many avian species which also are sighted in the area, would also stay away due to environmental pollution, said Sahu. Earlier, nearly five decades ago, the plant of Jayshree Chemicals was shutdown in the area for causing pollution.
Then what is the motive behind a Government agency constructing a waste treatment in the area, which would affect fishermen livelihood the olive ridleys nesting, dolphins, avian and marine life. Besides, tourist footfalls would also decrease, the locals questioned.
They demanded that the plant be immediately relocated by the district administration which has remained indifferent to their repeated pleadings otherwise they would embark on a stir.