World Environment Day: Sand artist's Olive Ridley turtle sculpture about plastic pollution drives point home

Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has created a huge sand turtle at Puri beach on the occasion of World Environment Day on Tuesday with a message to curb plastic pollution.

Pattnaik said he has "created the 55 ft long 30 ft wide sand sculpture of turtle by using about 30 tonne of sand with some colour sand."

Plastic bottles have been used on the sculpture with message "Beat plastic pollution", he said.

The theme for 2018, "Beat Plastic Pollution", is a call to action for all of us to come together to combat one of the great environmental challenges of our time, he said.

Stating that Odisha is famous for Olive ridley turtles, the renowned sand artist said every year the sea creatures visit the state for mass nesting.

The art showcased the unfortunate plight of the turtles that die each year from ocean pollution as they mistake plastics and other garbage as food. "This mistake causes blockages within their digestive system and eventually takes their life, so we spread this awareness through my sand sculpture," he said.

Pattnaik said he always tries to spread awareness through his unique art form.