Mahakalapara: Madali island, a favoured nesting site of Olive Ridley turtles in Gahirmatha marine sanctuary under this block of Kendrapara district, is facing an extinction threat due to large-scale erosion. With land being gobbled up by the sea at a rapid pace, the nesting place of the turtles is decreasing. Such has been the devastating effect of erosion, that the shape and size of the island have undergone a distinct change. Environmentalists said that earlier huge number of turtles would arrive at Madali island to lay eggs.
However, the numbers are decreasing rapidly as the area for nesting has shrunk considerably. They feared that if emergency measures are not adopted immediately, then Madali will meet the same fate as that of Agarnasi island in the sanctuary. It is pertinent to mention here that Agarnasi island was completely engulfed by the sea last year. Despite Forest department officials planting casuarina trees to prevent erosion, they could not save Agarnasi island from the sea. Constant lashing of tidal waves and the cyclonic storms in 1971, 1982, 1999, 2013, 2014, 2018 and 2019 spelt disaster for Agarnasi island. The Forest department has set up two camps at Madali island and its officials are trying to implement preventive measures against erosion.
However, other than the constant lashing of the waves, they have another problem to contain. A number of fishermen are anchoring their boats and trawlers close to the island eroding the sand bed of the island in the process. Despite instructions not to do so, the fishermen are not paying any heed. This has sparked resentment among the local intelligentsia and environmentalists. They questioned how the fishermen can anchor at the island which is a nesting site of the Olive Ridley turtles. They blamed the ineptness of forest officials on this issue.
Local environmentalist Biranchi Narayan Das alleged that the increase in human activities on the island has led to its shrinking. Fishermen and traders are illegally camping on the island and smuggling fish and crabs abroad. Das said this is not possible without the help of Forest department officials. When contacted, divisional forest officer (DFO) Sudarshan Gopinath Yadav said two camps have been set up on Madali island for constant patrolling. He assured that security measures will be intensified if there is any report of illegal activities and intrusion on the island. “All measures to protect the island will be taken,” Yadav stated.
