Whale deaths could be linked to dredging

After 15 months of dredging near the Gulf of Mannar, India for the Sethusamudram canal, a new wave of environmental concerns is rising after a reportedly unprecedented spate of whale deaths.

While environmentalists say there has been many whales washed ashore in the last nine months because of the dredging, the authorities are making no effort to dispel doubts over the perceived threat to the fragile marine ecosystem. The Gulf of Mannar is home to corals and many rare species of marine flora and fauna including some endangered species.

The figure has now reached ten dead whales which is alarming, since only 95 whale deaths have been noted in this region during 1841-1945. The interference of sonar waves generated by the machines used for marine surveys and dredging could be the cause of death of blue whales, sei whales and sperm whales.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests CK Sreedharan, who has also been the chief wildlife warden till recently, says the death of the whales is a matter of concern but would like to investigate more to see if the dredging operations could be the possible cause.