The Kerala High Court has intervened in a dispute over sand removal at the Thottappally Spillway, Alappuzha, for flood control. Environmentalists challenged the state's order to clear sand and vegetation, citing a "clear and present danger" to recognized nesting grounds of Olive Ridley and Hawksbill turtles. The court emphasized that flood mitigation efforts cannot endanger sensitive coastal ecology and turtle habitats, directing authorities to consider the ecological impact.