Members of the World Conservation Union (iucn) are sharply divided over the eco-friendliness of the port coming up at the mouth of river Dhamra in Orissa's Bhadrak district. The huge port is a joint venture between Tata Steel and L&T. Speaking in two contradictory voices, conservationists are yet to come up with a verdict on whether or not the upcoming Dhamra port is fauna friendly.

At the centre of this controversy are endangered Olive Ridley turtles, which visit the Orissa coast for mass nesting. iucn's Marine Turtle Specialist Group (mtsg) was invited by Tata Steel