Now, stir in TN to withdraw night traffic ban

Gudalar DMK MLA Dravida Mani also joined the protests and demanded the neighbouring state forest departments to ensure that the motorists and the tourists are not forced to undergo a tedious journey.

“Wayanad and Gudalur residents have been witnessing protests for several years demanding to allow night travel through the Bandipur tiger reserve,” legislator Dravida Mani told DT Next. Similarly, the stretch between the Bandipur and Mudumalai tiger reserve via Tamil Nadu is also closed for traffic between 9 PM to 6 AM. Now steps are being taken to ban the traffic near Gundlepet in Karnataka and Sulthan Bathery in Kerala, this has created an uproar among the traders and residents,” the MLA said. The traffic has not improved and now steps are being taken to ban the routes completely and this will affect the livelihood of traders, the MLA said arguing that there is a steep increase in fatal accidents due to over-speeding and night traffic restrictions.

Wildlife activists and naturalists have warned the state governments not to withdraw the traffic ban in sensitive Nilgiri wildlife corridors. “Any move to allow night traffic will have an adverse effect on wildlife that is already sitting on the brink of extinction,” wildlife biologist A Kumragaru, member, Sathyamangalam Tiger Conservation Foundation told DT Next. The controversial traffic ban area whether it is in Kerala, Karnataka or Tamil Nadu is home to over 600 tigers and 8000 elephants, facing extinction. The complete ban on traffic should be the long-term goal as these roads cross over the core tiger reserves that serve as the breeding ground of critically endangered animals and trees, Kumaraguru said.

Facilities and comforts should not be at the cost of forests and its wildlife. Any development activities in core jungle will lead to floods or desertification along the sensitive Cauvery and Moyar river valley, Kumaraguru noted.