India, Feb. 26 -- Non-compliance with 2-decade-old orders by CEC constituted by Supreme Court likely cause

The primary cause of the deaths of a large number of Olive Ridley sea turtles along the Odisha coast each year is likely the failure to comply with a two-decade-old order issued by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), which was constituted by the Supreme Court.

CEC members - Chairman PV Jayakrishnan, editor for Sanctuary magazine Bittu Sahgal, and retired principal chief conservator of forests, Tamil Nadu VR Chitrapu - submitted a report in 2004 following an SC order. The members visited Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Kendrapara district, Rushikulya beach in Ganjam district and Devi beach in Puri district regarding the protection...