(IN): Dolphins die in dynamite blast

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The Times of India, Kolkata Friday,February13, 2009

Dolphins die in dynamite blast

 

 

5 Marine Mammals, 4 Sea Turtles Killed In Bid To Extract Ship Wreckage

 

Himanshu Kaushik | TNN

 

Gandhinagar: In a shocking incident, one of the most delicate ecosystems in

India — the Marine National Park near Jamnagar — was jolted on Wednesday

when a contractor used dynamite to extract the wreckage of a sunken ship.

The explosion killed five endangered dolphins and four sea turtles,

leaving forest officials enraged. They filed a case against the contractor,

Devji, under the Wildlife Protection Act. Officials believe the contractor

had been using explosives on the sunken ship, about 4 nautical miles from

Okha port, at regular intervals.

Okha port officer J G Pandey said that a barge full of scrap had been

brought ashore about four days ago, which was only possible if dynamite had

been used. Foresters will soon start an extensive search operation along all

islands in the region to find out if more endangered species have washed

ashore.

Officials are also concerned that the explosions may have released

hazardous material from the sunken ship into the water, which may further

damage the precious flora and fauna.

The ship was originally auctioned to Ashwin Vanderia of Porbander for Rs

50 lakh after it sunk on the way to Kandla in 1965. He sub-contracted it to

Devji. Because the ship was 15 ft below the ocean floor, he used dynamite to

remove the thick layer of silt without permission from the collectorate or

park authorities.

" Devji stopped the operation only after the blast killed the dolphins and

turtles, " said a forest official. Both the species are protected in schedule

III of the Wildlife Protection Act.

S K Nanda, principal secretary, forest and environment, said: " The

contractor was finding it difficult to get the ship out and used explosives

to loosen it. This was an illegal act. A clearance under the Environment

Protection Act was required as there would be some hazardous material or oil

in the ship. " Gujarat Pollution Control Board officials have been asked to

examine the ship and investigate if it contained dangerous material.

" Our officials, who have visited the spot where the explosion took place,

have been instructed to examine the role of customs and port authorities as

they should have checked permissions given to the contractor. The officials

would come under the scanner if they haven't checked the documents, " Nanda

added.

Sources said a similar incident had taken place in 1989, but neither was

the area declared a sanctuary at that time nor was the Environment

Protection Act in place.

*

Baby tusker dies after chewing explosive

 

*Kochi: A four-year-old elephant died in the Neryamangalam forest of

Kerala's Idukki district after it reportedly chewed a fire-cracker left by

people living on the forest fringes to kill wild boars. The elephant was

found with an infected mouth. K Pappachan, one of the workers who spotted

the elephant, said it might have eaten the explosive mistaking it for food.

TNN

 

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