Night Traffic Ban In Bandipur Will Continue, Environmentalists Slam Rahul Gandhi For Supporting Demand To Revoke It

The night traffic ban in Bandipur Forest in Karnataka is once again turning out to be a point of contention between the state and its neighbour Kerala after fresh protests erupted in the latter demanding an end to it.

Led by various youth organizations, thousands have been protesting for over a week demanding the end of night traffic ban in NH 766, which is passing through the protected area.

PTI

The route is critical for people from districts like Kozhikode and Wayanad for interstate travel to Karnataka.

Wayanad MP and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had recently extended his support to the protesters and met Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday where he discussed the hardships faced by people of Wayanad due to the night traffic.

Gandhi said he had taken up the issue of the night travel ban and the agitation by youngsters on the matter with the Chief Minister and sought intervention from both central and state governments on the issue.

I urge the Central and State Governments to safeguard the interests of local communities, while upholding our collective responsibility to protect our environment.

¡ª Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 29, 2019

However, his comments have come under heavy criticism from environments who said the Congress leader is making political statements unaware of the facts.

"Yes, Rahul Gandhi is the MP of Wayanad and he has his political compulsions. But someone like him should not make comments without making proper research on this," Vijay Nishant, a Benguluru-based environmentalist said.

Nishant also said that it is unfortunate that Rahul, the grandson of Indira Gandhi who was instrumental in setting up the Wildlife Protection Act is undoing her legacy.

"It was Indira Gandhi who brought all these wildlife conservation laws. Today Bandipur is one of the best-conserved tiger habitats in the country and it is the hard work of nearly three deceased. We cannot undo this for the selfish needs of some people," he said.

The point of contention is a 19.7 kilometre stretch of the Kozhikode-Mysuru-Kollegal National Highway 766 which is passing through the Bandipur Tiger Reserve.

BCCL

In 2009, the Karnataka High Court had banned night traffic through the stretch from 9 pm to 6 am citing the rising number of roadkills.

Kerala has over the years unsuccessfully challenged the order in the HC and in the Supreme Court.

The court had refused to entertain Kerala's plea citing that an alternative route which is just 35 km long already exists.

BCCL

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa has made it clear that the ban on plying of vehicles through Bandipur forest area during the night will continue. "I cannot go against the court order. The Court has ordered not to allow vehicles in the night in Bandipur forest area," he said on Wednesday.

Nishant also stated that another contentious demand by Kerala - an elevated corridor through Bandipur to allow night traffic will be opposed.

BCCL

"The elevated corridor will be an ecological disaster. It will effectively cut the forest into two, resulting in several crucial wildlife crossing being cut off. We cannot let that happen. We have opposed that in the past and will continue to oppose it. We will welcome any sustainable alternatives from Kerala, but so far they haven't been able to come up with something," he said.