‘Walk for Bandipur’ against talks on lifting of ban on night traffic on April 6

Mysuru: Environmentalists have planned a movement ‘Walk for Bandipur’, on April 6 from Kaggala Hundi in Gundlupet taluk, Chamarajanagar district, to protest against the ongoing talks on lifting the ban on night traffic on the National Highway to Kerala, via Bandipur Tiger Reserve.

The movement with the slogan 'Let's walk together and say ‘no’ to lifting of the night traffic ban’ would begin at the Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in Kaggala Hundi at 10.30 am on Sunday.

Activists

On Tuesday also, a section of environmentalists visited Moolehole checkpost on Sulthan Bathery Road, in Gundlupet taluk, to take note of the vehicles passing through the stretch. They held a discussion on the future course of action as the issue of lifting the night traffic ban on the highway, passing through the Bandipur forest, is being discussed again.

It may be mentioned that the night traffic is banned on the two national highways - NH-181 (Mysuru-Ooty Road) and NH-766 (previously NH-212) Kollegal- Kozhikode - passing through the Bandipur Tiger Reserve for 16 years, because many wild animals lost their lives in roadkill mishaps. The 9 pm to 6 am ban was imposed after detailed studies. However, ambulances transporting patients and vehicles transporting people in emergency are allowed during the restricted time.

Bus service

Besides, two buses (Bengaluru-Ooty and Bengaluru-Ernakulam) on the Gundlupet-Ooty Road and two others (Bengaluru-Ernakulam and Bengaluru-Thiruvananthapuram) on Gundlupet-Sulthan Bathery Road are allowed during the night hours.

It is learnt that the Congress leadership is reportedly pressuring its Karnataka government to ease the ban, a long-standing demand of the people of Wayanad, a constituency now represented by party leader Priyanka Gandhi in the Lok Sabha. Earlier also, when former AICC president Rahul Gandhi was the MP of Wayanad, a similar pressure was exerted on the Karnataka government.

Petition

Recently, Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre had advised the officials to consider the humanitarian concerns, highlighted in the petitions, calling for an end to the night ban. Baiju Paul Mathews, a Wayanad native, has approached the Supreme Court, seeking a relaxation of the ban.

During the bypoll to Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, when Rahul Gandhi gave up the segment and Priyanka Gandhi was contesting, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Sivakumar supported the lifting of the ban, during an election campaign in Wayanad. However, he went silent on the issue later.

Court order

The two highways have been closed between 9 pm and 6 am since the Karnataka High Court passed an order in March 2010. The court had also ordered the repairing of the alternative Hunsur-Kutta-Kartikulam road -- about 35 km longer -- for use during the night.

Kerala had moved the Supreme Court, seeking lifting of the ban. The apex court upheld the ban in 2019. A few high-level committees and meetings between chief ministers of both the states had concluded that the night traffic ban was essential in the interest of ecology. The stand was upheld by the National Tiger Conservation Authority also.

Assurance

In 2024, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari had said that they would take up the 65-km work from Mysuru to Mallapuram at a cost of Rs 2,500 crore, in order to provide an alternative route from Kozikode to Mysuru to connect Kerala and Karnataka. However, there has been no progress on this proposal.

Saptagirish, one of the coordinators, said, various organisations and individuals with concern for environment and wildlife are taking part in the walk, a distance of around 2.5 km, up to Maddur checkpost of the forest.

Those interested can call: 83101 93878, 99001 05195 or 94823 42796. Whatsapp group for coordination is:  https://chat.whatsapp.com/LbeWTcE4GUOIpRAL2tLX5v