Berhampur: As the mass nesting of Olive Ridley sea turtles is clocking closer, the forest department is on its toe to clean the beach near Rushikulya rookery in Ganjam district.
Unlike previous years, the drive has been difficult for the department due to the cyclonic storm Titli that hit the state October 11.
Despite the devastation wreaked by the cyclonic storm, Rushikulya remains a favourite rookery for the endangered turtles as many have been slowing turning up here for mass nesting.
According to sources, the coastline of over 10km from Purunabandha to Prayagi in Rushikulya rookery is to be cleaned up. All items that can harm the turtles like blunt objects and various forms of garbage including polythene waste would be removed. Forest officials have started the process and volunteers as well as students were seen being involved in the cleaning work.
It is usually in the beginning of November that hundreds of turtles come out from the sea to dig out nests in the sandy beach. So, the forest officials are leaving no stone unturned to once again make it a favourite nesting ground for the marine creatures.
A meeting was called by Suresh Pant, regional chief conservator of forest (RCCF) at his office in this regard. The meeting focused on several preventive measures to protect the hatchlings.
Nets would be placed at the beach for a stretch of over eight km from Gokharkuda to Podampeta to check straying of the turtles from the sandy beach. Moreover, no mechanised boats would be allowed into the sea for fishing until the nesting and breeding season comes to an end.
The fishery department would provide Rs 7,000 each to fishermen facing loss. Fishermen of around 11 villages near the beach would benefit from the compensation.
“We expect more Olive Ridleys to turn up for nesting this season. All safety measures are being taken. No fishing boats will be allowed and action will be taken against the violators,” the RCCF said.
Mass nesting is expected to start soon. For sporadic nesting before that three artificial hatcheries have already been set up by the forest department. The whole coastline has been divided into 50 segments and around 100 staffers of the forest department along with volunteers would monitor these segments for enumeration and protection of the turtles, it was learnt.
PNN