Odisha's Gopalpur beach sees rise in pollution: Study
Increase in pollution every year a matter of concern, says Marine Science professor
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Berhampur (Odisha) (PTI): Gopalpur beach in Odisha's Ganjam district is getting more polluted with each passing day even as several steps have been taken to maintain cleanliness at the popular tourist destination, according to a study.
As much as 101 kg of solid waste of nine different types were removed from a 10,869-sq-metre area on the beach during a recent cleaning drive.
The waste materials included non-biodegradable polythene covers, plastic caps, footwear, glass bottles and others, said Pratap Mohanty, professor of the Berhampur University's Marine Science Department, which conducted the study.
Around 9.31 gm of solid waste materials was found per square-meter area on the beach, which is considered one of the cleanest beaches in the state. It is almost double when compared to the previous year's 4.82 gm, he said.
"In 2018, it was 1.6 gm of solid waste per square meter, and 3.6 gm per square meter in 2019," said Mohanty, who has conducted the analysis of the pollution load on the beach for the past few years.
"Beach pollution is increasing every year and it is a matter of concern," he said.
The varsity's department and the National Centre for Coastal Research observed the International Coastal Cleanup Day at Gopalpur on Saturday along with representatives from the Coast Guard, Gopalpur Port, and several other institutes, besides students and teachers.
They emphasized awareness creation for tourists and local fisherfolk, who contribute almost 97 and 3 per cent of the debris respectively, Mohanty added.
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We received request; will decide soon whether to support TVK: Thirumavalavan
Chennai (PTI): VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan on Thursday said that his party received a request from TVK for support and the high-level committee of his party will decide whether to support the Vijay-led party to form the government.
The TVK won 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly and emerged as the single largest party. Vijay will have to resign from one of the two constituencies he has won.
Though the Congress party, which has five MLAs, has extended support to TVK, the actor-politician-led party was still short of as many seats to touch the magic number of 118, the majority mark in the 234-member House.
"We received the request letter from TVK. We are thankful for that. We have not ignored his (Vijay's) request. We have a procedure. Therefore, our party's high-level committee will decide soon. We are going to discuss the merits and demerits of our position," the VCK leader told reporters here.
With regard to the delay in the governor's call to the TVK, which is the single largest party, to form the government, Thirumavalavan requested the governor to invite Vijay to form the government. "It is a constitutional right and people's verdict," he added.
Asserting that the governor cannot say that Vijay should hold 118 MLAs' support now itself to form the government, he said that after taking over power, Vijay has to prove an absolute majority only on the floor of the Assembly.
