BALASORE: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has claimed that it has been conducting missile test from the Wheeler Island in Bhadrak district off Odisha coast with strict compliance to the conditions stipulated by the experts and forest officials.
Responding to an order of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the DRDO stated that it ensures safety of Wheeler Island ecosystem and wildlife in the nearby areas.
In January, NHRC had directed the Home Secretary of Government of India to take appropriate action on the issue of protection of Wheeler Island at different stand points. On June 11, the Ministry of Home Affairs asked the Director General of DRDO to take appropriate steps. The apex human rights watchdog passed the direction acting over a petition filed by Rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy.
The DRDO authorities said the launch pad located in Wheeler Island has been designed in such a manner that it would not affect the inhabitants, flora and fauna of the area.
During the nesting season of Olive Ridley turtles from January to June, street lights on the jetty are switched off and activities on the launch pad are done only during day time. Similarly, the suggestions of the forest officials are implemented and no disruption to the ecosystem and turtle nesting is caused due to the defence activities, they mentioned.
In his petition, Tripathy alleged that due to inaction of the DRDO and National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) to control the sand erosion, India’s lone missile test-firing range at Wheeler Island has become a serious concern not only for the inhabitants of Bhadrak district but also the whole country.
Since the Island is close to Gahirmatha that nests Olive Ridley turtles, the Chandipur Integrated Test Range (ITR) had filed an affidavit on behalf of the Defence Ministry, two days before the Agni-II missile test on April 9, 1999, stating that there were no plans to test-fire any missile during the mating and nesting period of the sea turtles.