It is reported that Supreme Court has issued notice to the ministry of environment and forests, and the Orissa government on a plea filed by environmentalists seeking a halt to work on the Dhamra Port promoted by TATA Steel and L&T citing threat to the endangered Olive Ridley turtles.

The applicants have sought imposition of penalty on the Dhamra Port Company Ltd for seriously endangering forest and wildlife, especially the Olive Ridley turtles, which are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

Mr F S Nariman a senior counsel of Dhamra Port said the company had all the necessary permissions and it should be impleaded as a party in the matter.

Wildlife magazine Sanctuary Asia editor Mr Bittu Sahgal, film maker Mr Shekar Dattari and conservationist Mr Romulus Whitaker have alleged that the state government had allowed the Dhamra Port project to start work on forest land without prior approval from the Central government and had violated the Forest Conservation Act 1980.

(Sourced from Economic Times)