The Kerala government has insisted that the existing night traffic ban be lifted on a 25 km stretch.
In a major relief for environmentalists, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday stated that the state government will not allow the lifting of the night traffic ban from the core tiger habitat of the Bandipur National Park. "I cannot go against the court order. The court has ordered not to allow vehicles in the night in Bandipur forest area," the CM said. The statement from the CM came a day before Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to join protests in Wayanad by groups who are seeking the relaxation of the ban. Ahead of his visit, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan had also held a meeting with Rahul Gandhi on the issue. The Kerala government has been insisting that the existing night traffic ban be bypassed on a 25-km stretch of National Highway 212 (now called 766), by cutting through a core part of the forest with an elevated corridor. The Supreme Court had also upheld this night traffic ban earlier in August. In March 2018, the National Tiger Conservation Authority had advised the Centre against moving ahead with the project, as it could have adverse effects on the forest habitat, where over a hundred tigers currently reside. The existing traffic ban on traffic flow after dark came into effect in 2009 while the Karnataka High Court was hearing a case pertaining to roadkill. At least 215 animals were killed by oncoming traffic between 2004 and 2007, according to the court. Recently TNM had reported a note by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar to Pinarayi had also reiterated that the union government will not allow such a project. In that letter, the union minister said, “Your suggestion has already been discussed at length by a Committee of Secretaries chaired by the Cabinet Secretary to the Government of India, wherein, it was recommended to maintain status quo on restriction of nighttime traffic through Bandipur Tiger Reserve and strengthen the alternative route already available for nighttime traffic.” “Further, I take this opportunity to inform you that by following the Principle of Avoidance, Core/Critical Tiger Habitats (CTH) need to be kept in view for long-term sustenance of ecology of the area,” he added. Currently, only a limited number of government-run buses and emergency vehicles are allowed to operate during the restricted period of 9 pm to 6 am on the stretch. During this period motorists take an alternative route via Hunsur-Gonikoppal-Kutta-Mananthavady Road, which is around 30 km longer. While the plan of the elevated corridor was suggested by the union government through the National Highway Authority for the Bharatmala project, it withdrew the proposal after inter-ministerial discussions and Supreme Court orders. The Kerala CM had written to Javadekar offering to fund half the project soon after the SC verdict on night traffic, stating that it will prove beneficial to residents of Wayanad, Kozhikode and Malappuram districts. Pinarayi who had met the central minister again on Tuesday said that the Centre has agreed to form an expert committee to study the night ban. Read: Night traffic ban in Bandipur Tiger Reserve to stay: Centre to Pinarayi Vijayan
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