Plastic ban on forest highways

The director of the Bandipur Tiger Reserve has said that in order to make the region free of plastic menace, Forest department officials have been directed to appoint a daily wage worker, one person for a jurisdiction of four to six km of forest highway, who will conduct a clean-up drive of plastic waste dumped on the road.

The director has said that despite information boards and awareness messages, visitors to the reserve have been found dumping plastic bottles and other waste on forest roads affecting flora and fauna.

“Here on, a penalty of Rs 1,000 will be collected from visitors who indulge in dumping plastic waste inside the Tiger Reserve, as well as on those who indulge in overspeeding and posing problems to wild animals,” he said.