KARWAR: The war exercises being carried out by the Navy at Netrani island, located 18 km off Murdeshwar coast, has irked the environmentalists.
The island is a heritage site, as declared by the State Biodiversity Board. The environmentalists had been protesting against the naval exercises at the island since long for they say it would destroy the unique biodiversity of the island.
According to VN Nayak, a marine scientist, the island is known for rich coral reefs and has been a safe habitat for rare edible-nest swiftlets, the small dark brown slightly fork tailed birds. The two subterranean caves in the island provide safe home for these birds. Varieties of fish species are also found in the island and even whales rest here during the breeding season, he added.
The naval exercises may adversely affect the marine biodiversity of the island and therefore it should be stopped, the environmentalists feel.
It is alleged that earlier the naval authorities used to give prior intimation to the public through district administration regarding the exercises so that the fishermen would not venture into the sea near the island. But this time the exercises were held a week ago without any warning to the public.
According to Anant Hegde Asisar, Chairman for Western Ghats Task Force, he has written a letter to Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa requesting him to check the naval exercises in the island. He had pointed out in his letter that a team of scientists headed by Dr Madhav Gadgil, in its report, has observed that Netrani island is ecologically highly sensitive and therefore, the government should not allow these exercises in the island, he said.