New Delhi: Environmental issues today dominated the Lok Sabha with members raising matters ranging from the drying up of Bhagirathi, adverse effects of missile testing on Olive Ridley turtles to contamination of water around Bhopal's Union Carbide plant.

Observing that 2009 would mark the 25th anniversary of the Bhopal Gas tragedy, CPI(M) member Hannan Mollah sought the government's immediate intervention to resolve problems relating to the extradition of then Union Carbide chief Warren Anderson, water contamination and rehabilitation of victims.

"Most of the problems relating to these issues remain unresolved 25 years after the tragedy," Mollah said during the Zero Hour, demanding immediate intervention by the Centre.

BJD's Bhratruhari Mahtab, while supporting the need for testing of missiles, said the nesting of the endangered turtles had been disrupted due to such tests in Orissa.

"There has been no nesting by the turtles so far." He claimed that DRDO had "violated" its agreements with Orissa government in this regard by using bright lights and testing missiles when the Olive Ridleys were approaching islands near Gahirmatha in the past few weeks.

Observing that Agni-III would be tested soon, he asked the Centre to ascertain how the agreements were "breached" and also take adequate measures to ensure that the turtles were not endangered.

Another CPI(M) member Rupchand Pal said the Google Earth image had recently shown that an eight kilometre stretch of Bhagirathi river had dried up since 2004 and five other rivers emanating from Gangotri glacier were also drying up.

He wanted the government to set up an experts panel and take urgent measures in this regard.
Source : PTI