Population of mugger, an endangered species of crocodiles in Ghodahada irrigation reservoir, near Digapahandi located about 50 km from Berhampur in Ganjam district, increased by 7 in the last two years.

The population of mugger which had counted in the 5-sq km water bodies at 41 in 2010, their number went up to 48 at present. The two-day enumeration of the crocodile ended yesterday, where at least 25 forest officials were engaged in the exercise held after two years.

While the enumerators sighted 41 adult (above 4-ft-long) muggers inside the reservoir area, other seven were sighted outside the reservoir, said divisional forest officer, Berhampur A K Jena.

With a major chunk of the mugger living in the reservoir, Ghodahada can be considered as another potential habitat for the mugger, the wildlife experts said.

Similipal, Satakosia, Ramtirth and Baisipalli in the states have been identified as the habitats of the muggers.

The wildlife lovers however were excited when they found a number of muggers housed in Ghodahada, the reservoir is meant for the irrigation purpose.

“Improvement of habitat, including the conservation measures and constant monitoring of their behaviours are some of the reasons for the increase of the population of muggers in the reservoirs,” DFO said.

The muggers in the reservoir swim safely as the local fishermen did not harm them, even though they use the water body for the fishing purpose. This despite frequent reports of destruction of the fishing nets by the animal. The forest officials in the area are also creating awareness among the local people for co-existence of men and animals.

A pilot project on “Biodiversity conservation through community based natural resources management” is being implemented in the area with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for providing alternative livelihood support to the people of the area and to protect the biodiversity in the area.

The Rs 70 lakh project which started in 2008-09 will end in the month of March next.

Rows of sugarcane-laden trucks in front of Aska Cooperative Sugar Factory speak volumes of uncertainty over latter’s functioning.

A molasses tank bursted last Sunday on the factory premises which led to the death of a woman and two children.

With the remaining three tanks filled to the brim with molasses, the authorities are in a fix as there is no place to store more after crushing the sugarcane.

A distillery unit was set up with four storage tanks in 1972 to make use of the molasses, but the work had to be stopped for lack of permission from the Odisha State Pollution Control Board.

Though the factory authorities managed their liquor preparation by purchasing spirit from outside, no steps were taken to sell the molasses stock or maintain the tanks. Factory sources said over 100 metric tonnes (MT) of molasses is produced during the crushing period and if the distillery unit is allowed to operate, 40 MT can be put to use.

Factory Managing Director Basant Behera said we are left with only one alternative that is to sell the stored molasses which would allow crushing of sugarcane.

Sai Keerthi Behera and N Bhupal Raju of Andhra Pradesh clinched the title in girls and boys single category respectively in the All India Tennis Association Championship (under-16) series here. While Behera defeated Lakhita Landa of her state Andhra Pradesh by 6-1, 6-3, Raju routed M M K Ramineni 6-2, 6-4 in the final matches held yesterday. Similarly N Bhupal Raju and Sajid UR Rehman of Andhra Pradesh and Koyal Mishra and Tanmayee Patnaik of Odisha won the title in the double boys and girls categories respectively in the tournament. Raju and Rehman beat Adarsh Sahoo and Abhilash Chandra Sahoo of Odisha by 6-1, 6-3, their counterpart Koyal and Tanmayee defeated Komal Das and Shilpi Das of Odisha by 6-1 and 6-2 to won the title. In the four-day tournament organised by Ganjam district Tennis Association and Odisha Tennis Association, players from nine states including Odisha took part.

62 cases of violation of model code of conduct in the ensuing rural polls by government officials and political leaders have so far been reported in Ganjam district, official sources said today. While highest number of 26 complaints came from Chhatrapur sub division, it was followed by Berhampur (23) and Bhanjanagar (13), district collector Krishan Kumar said. A teacher in Khallikote block was suspended on charge of violating the code of conduct after investigation, the collector said adding some other complaints were being probed and reported to State Election Commissioner (SEC). The collector said complaints against MLAs of Goplapur (Pradip Kumar Panighrahi), Berhampur (R C Chyauptaniak) and vice-chancellor, Berhampur University were also received for attending a university function. “We have issued show cause notice to them,” he said. The elections for 69 zilla parishad, 475 sarapanch and 475 samiti members and 6,943 wards will be held in five phases from February 11 to 19 next in Ganjam district. As many as 3989 candidates, including 3841 ward members, 73 sarapanchS and 74 samiti members were elected unopposed after withdrawal of the nominations, official sources said.

Shifting of river mouth and erosion have changed the terrain of the nesting beach of Olive Ridley turtles near the Rushikulya rookery in Ganjam district of Odisha.

Forest officials and environmental activists are keeping their fingers crossed over its possible impact on nesting of the turtles this year. Its mating season is almost over and nesting is expected to start from the third week of February.

In the recent months, the Ruhsikulya river mouth has shifted towards the north. This has completely eroded the long sandy nesting beach near Kantiagada village, where most of the turtles laid their eggs last year. At present, no sandy beach remains in the area and the sea is touching the casuarina forest on the coastline. This shifting of the river mouth has also led to the formation of a 500-metre-long sandbar of more than 200 metres inside the sea.

Such changes, however, are not new.

Olive Ridleys are known to change their nesting place. In the past, most turtles used to nest near Purunabandha village towards the south, then they shift to the north, to the coastline near Kantiagada.

“It remains to be seen what impact this recent change will have on the nesting site of the Olive Ridleys,” said A.K. Jena, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Berhampur.

The question is whether these endangered turtles would prefer to nest on the recently formed sandbar or not. “Usually Olive Ridleys do not prefer to nest on sand patches that are not connected to the mainland. In 2009, after the shifting of the Rushikulya river mouth, a large sandbar was formed in the area, but Olive Ridleys did not prefer to lay eggs on it,” Mr. Jena said.

Experts say that before mass nesting takes place, a large numbers of turtles waiting in the sea get information on the state of the coast from some Olive Ridleys that come for sporadic nesting. Based on this information, females decide whether to nest or not.

Following the mating season, a large number of female turtles are waiting for nesting. Males have started to return. Even after mating, female Olive Ridleys at times do not lay eggs if the environment is not conducive for nesting.

While some experts say the turtles can keep the fertilised eggs inside their body for two to three years, others are of the view that the females can keep the sperm in their body and opt for fertilisation of eggs whenever they want, said Mr. Jena.

Zoologists say female Olive Ridleys can also absorb fertilised eggs in their body if the nesting situation is not favourable. However, the nesting habit of Olive Ridleys still remains a mystery. In 2007, there was no mass nesting on the Rushikulya rookery coast, while in 2006, there was mass nesting on two occasions.