The recent decision of the Union shipping ministry to allow transshipment operations at Kanika sands, an island located close to the Bhitarkanika national park, is set to pose threat to wildlife species, activists warned.
“Setting up a transloading point at Kanika sands will pose a huge threat to the local marine fauna since there is high chance of spillage of crude oil, chemicals and coking coal- the usual cargo that will be unloaded at this area. Every winter, at least half a million sea turtles use the sea area near Dhamra river mouth adjacent to the Kanika sands for feeding and breeding. It appears that the state government and the Union ministry of shipping have not examined the likely environmental impact of allowing transshipment operations at Kanika sands,” Biswajit Mohanty, member of National Board of Wildlife wrote to additional director general (wildlife), Union ministry of environment & forests.
The Kanika sands is located close to the Bhitarkanika national park since it is hardly 1.5 km from the nearest boundary. It is also located within the proposed eco-sensitive zone of the Bhitarkanika national park as well as the Gahiramatha marine sanctuary, Mohanty said.
