DPCL rejects green groups' demand to stop work at Dhamara

The tussle between the environmental groups led by Greenpeace and the authorities of the Dhamara Port Company Limited (DPCL) over the proposed port at Dhamara has taken a new turn with the environmentalists pressing for an end to DPCL’s dredging and construction activities at the port site.

The environmental groups concerned over the threat posed by the upcoming Dhamara port to the survival of the Olive Ridley turtles have demanded that the port authorities should cease dredging and construction activities for conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study.

“In view of the safety of the Olive Ridley turtles, we are concerned whether the port should exist or not. DPCL cannot conduct an EIA study without stopping its dredging activities. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), appointed by DPCL as its environmental advisor is actually undertaking some mitigation measures and not carrying out any EIA study”, said Biswajit Mohanty, member, National Board of Wildlife. “The dredging activities carried out by DPCL have eroded the Gahirmatha beach to a great extent. The Gahirmatha beach is one of the largest mass nesting sites of the Olive Ridley turtles and the future of these turtles is at stake”, he added.

However, DPCL authorities have claimed that DPCL has conducted the necessary environmental study before commencing work at the port site, but has agreed to engage with the environmental groups to allay their fears and work towards the refinement of mitigation measures.

The port authorities are even prepared to temporarily suspend some dredging and construction activities if it interferes with the fresh environment study.

DPCL alleged that the environmentalists are adamant to stop all work before the commencement of the study. “DPCL is building the port on the basis of legal clearances supported by the scientific advice of IUCN which is the world’s premier scientific body in the field of conservation.

While we are open to further scientific studies and assessment by other organisations who have expressed their concerns, we do not stop or suspend construction work based on advice which is unscientific and based on speculation”, Santosh Mohapatra, chief executive officer, DPCL said in a release.