The Kerala government has filed a petition to oppose the ban on night traffic on parts of two National Highways that pass through Karnataka’s Bandipur tiger reserve in the Supreme Court, said a report in The Indian Express.
The Karnataka High Court had ordered the ban in March, following reports of tigers, deer and elephants being run over by vehicles. Traffic had been banned between 9 pm and 6 am over 13 km of NH 212 and 20 km of NH 67. In its petition, the Kerala government has argued that the ban will seriously impact the state’s economy, and claimed Karnataka’s stand was “myopic” and “smacking of romantic notions”. Among the suggestions Kerala offered in return are – a convoy of vehicles from the forest department to accompany commercial trucks at night, or a new elevated road made on pillars.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority, which is headed by the ministry of environment and forests, has decided to oppose the petition, suggesting that the issue will escalate. Rajesh Gopal, member secretary of the Authority, said, “This is an issue of all kinds of animals dying because of traffic through the tiger reserve.”
While Kerala has claimed that the ban on night traffic on the two highways will affect the vegetable markets and lead to the inconvenience of lakhs of people in the state, wildlife activists point out that the existing routes which create a diversion of 30-40 km can be used instead. “The two highways are winding roads that pass through the park. Even if the driver is cautious it is difficult to prevent the death of wild animals, as they freeze when caught in the headlights of the vehicle,” said Sanjay Gubbi of the Wildlife Conservation Society, which was involved in the original petition in the HC to impose the ban. “Kerala’s argument that the vegetable market is affected is factually incorrect. The vegetable batches leave during the day as they have to reach neighbouring states early in the morning.”
Night traffic has been effectively banned only in the Nagarhole tiger reserve so far, which is part of a contiguous corridor with Bandipur. Being both tiger and elephant habitat, Bandipur is one of the richest biodiversity spots in the country.
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