‘Lifting the Ban on Night Traffic in Bandipore Will Bring an Ecological Disaster’

After a span of nine years, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is planning to lift the ban on vehicular movement on the National Highway 212 during nights in Karnataka's Bandipore Tiger Reserve. The proposed lifting of the ban will come along with construction of four elevated stretches of 1 km length to create passage ways for animals across the reserve. It also includes widening of the existing right of wayto 15 metre uniformly from 10-15 metre. The ministry is also planning to build eight-feet-long fences to prevent the accidents.

The ban came into force after the Karnataka High Court heard the petition pertaining to the deaths of 215 mammals, birds and snakes between 2004 and 2007 in accidents. In its order, the Court banned vehicular movement on the National Highway 61 and National Highway 212, which traverses through Bandipore Tiger Reserve. While NH 61 connects Karnataka to Tamil Nadu, NH 212 links Karnataka with Kerala.

The latest plan to revoke this ban has irked the environmentalists and environment enthusiasts. They are surprised that the state has decided to change its stand after nine years. In a letter to Karnataka Chief Secretary, MoRTH Secretary Y S Malik said that the state must send its consent to the ministry immediately for widening and opening the road for animal passageways with no restrictions. The issue was raised during a meeting of Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, PWD Minister HD Revanna with the Union Minister NItin Gadkari, and the former agreed to revoke the ban.

The environmentalists argue that the plan will destroy the entire habitat of tigers and other animals in the reserve. Bandipore Tiger Reserve is currently home to over 100 tigers and 1,800 animals.

Read more: Will Environment Ministry Address Concerns Raised by Tribal Ministry on Draft Forest Policy?

Veteran environmentalist D Raghunandan argued that the project is the continuance of the Centre's policy clearing linear projects through reserves and sanctuaries. He added that it will not only disturb the ecology, but also lead to increased number of human-animal conflict.

“The Centre's decision for reopening the night traffic in Bandipore shows a careless approach to a critical issue. We have noticed a 50 percent decrease in human accidents (fatal and non-fatal) when the ban was implemented during the night. So, basically it is ignoring this important fact and reflects its ‘I do not care’ approach," he said.

Commenting on the impact, he said that the logic behind tiger reserves and sanctuaries was to protect the natural habitat of the endangered animals and the latest development defeats the purpose.

"For example, a tiger has its own territory, and he uses it for hunting its prey. When we make highways, it disturbs their habitat, and makes it difficult for them to hunt. It further distracts them and they may end up in a conflict with people living in a neighbouring village. The result can be seen in Madhya Pradesh where the linking of Ken and Betwa rivers have brought havoc to Panna Tiger Reserve," said Raghunandan.

"Similarly, an elephant roams around in his territory and needs 6 tons of leafs and grass to survive. Building highways and railway lines, without understanding their behaviour and natural habitat, only results in deadly conflicts. It is only these interventions that has brought wild dogs (dhols) near extinction."

Read More: How Austerity Policies Wrecked Greece’s Ability to Respond to Wildfires