National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Ltd and Andhra Pradesh Forest Department have joined together for the conservation of the endangered Olive Ridley Sea Turtles along the coast of Nine Districts in the state. This is done under the Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainable development initiative.

The Officials of NTPC PK Bondriya, Group General Manger and SBL Misra, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) of Andhra Pradesh had signed the MoU at Aranya Bhavan in Hyderabad.

Under this project or initiative, NTPC is contributing Rs. 4.6 crore for five-year conservation period including inventory mapping of breeding sites of sea turtles, identification of nesting and breeding habitats along the shoreline and  their migratory routes, development of guidelines to safeguard and minimise turtle mortality.

As the coastal beaches in Andhra Pradesh are nesting places for the sea turtles, sporadic nesting is common on these beaches. Olive Ridley is common and Green Turtle occurs occasionally and Hawksbill is different types of turtles seen on these beaches.

This conservation project predicts involving local communities, NGOs, Forest Department and other stake holders in protection and conservation of nests.