Mass mortality of Olive Ridley turtles in Godavari region of Andhra Pradesh raises concerns

Hundreds of vulnerable Olive Ridley Turtles have washed ashore along the coastline between Kakinada and Antarvedi in the Godavari region during the ongoing annual breeding season on the east coast. Since early January, a group of locals have photographed as many as 70 Olive Ridley turtles which have been found dead in their breeding grounds between Kakinada and Antarvedi. Legal battle Environmental activist Venkatipathiraja Yenumala, in a complaint to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the AP Forest Department and the Pollution Control Board, said, “There is mass mortality of Olive Ridley turtles in the Mandals of Sakhinetipalli, Malikipuram, Mamidikuduru and Allavaram in the Konaseema region, where treated water is being discharged into the sea through pipelines by the oil exploration units including ONGC facilities.” In 2021, Mr. Venkatipathiraja waged a legal battle against the marine and groundwater pollution in the Konaseema region in the National Green Tribunal. Prasada Rao said, “We have launched a probe into the mortality of Olive Ridley turtles in our district.