KalingaTimes Correspondent
Kendrapara (Orissa), Dec 2: In a move to thwart possible attack on forest department patrol vessels guarding the breeding Olive Ridley turtles, the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) has gone ahead with establishing direct communication link with turtle protection units along the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Orissa's Kendrapara district.

Turtle patrolling vessels were linked with aerial communication of the defence installation during 2005 year. But it was discontinued last year and there were reports of bloody mid-sea violence.

The protective cover provided by the defence personnel in test range centre at Wheeler's Island , located in close vicinity of world's largest rookery of Olive turtles in Gahirmatha beach, seems to have given a shot in the arm to the beleaguered forest staffs.

Official sources informed that all the patrol vessels now engaged in mission to intercept deep-sea trawls illegally fishing in prohibited Gahirmatha seawaters have got directly connected with high frequency communication link network of the defence installation project.

The crewmembers of turtle protection vessels can now seek immediate help from DRDO surveillance vessels to meet with the exigencies like on-shore onslaught from armed intruding fishing vessels, a senior official said.

The communication link from the defence installation would be maintained till the mass nesting of turtles ends, sources added.

The forest department had put forth a proposal in this regard before the DRDO seeking its active help in conservation of threatened Olive Ridley sea turtles sighted en-masse in this part during the winter months.

A special request had been made on direct radio link forest vessels with defence surveillance teams considering the incidents of armed attack by trespassing fishing vessels, informed the forest department sources.

The turtle protection exercise was marred with a series of mid-sea violent incidents. A fisherman was shot dead by patrol staff. It had ensued quick sequence of retaliatory attack by the armed marine fishermen.

The unarmed patrol team had become soft target of intruding vessels. Three years back the fishermen had intercepted a vessel carrying senior forest officers and had held them hostage. The defence personnel from the Wheeler's Island had rescued the officials.

Even though bloody violence has not been reported this year, the defence help was sought with apprehension of such trouble looming large, quipped official sources.

With DRDO keeping constant watch on turtle protection vessels, the chances of attack of this nature have now become considerably remote, the sources opined.

The DRDO and officials of Rajnagar Mangrove and Wildlife Division recently discussed on turtle protection measures. The DRDO has agreed to extend berthing facility to forest department vessels on defence base. Besides, they have agreed that ground level forest staffs would be allowed weeklong restricted entry into prohibited defence base once the turtles lay eggs, the sources added.