NGT forms panel to analyse cause of sea turning red in Puducherry

The principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal has formed a committee to analyse the cause of the sea turning red in Puducherry. Hearing a suo motu case based on a report in The Hindu on a reddish tinge observed on the northern side of the Promenade Beach on October 17, the Bench comprising Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member A. Senthil Vel ordered the panel to ascertain the cause of the colour change and take remedial action to prevent such an incident. The committee will comprise a nominee of Member Secretary, Central Pollution Control Board ; Member Secretary, Puducherry Pollution Control Committee ; a nominee of the Head of Marine Biology Department of University of Puducherry; a senior scientist nominated by Director, Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Parangipettai. Citing the report, the Bench said the cause of colour change could be algal bloom and the reddish tinge was observed at several patches along the coastline, and it had been expressed that industrial pollution or ‘Red Tide’ could be the factor behind the sea turning red.