Wayanad environmentalists oppose easing of Bandipur night traffic ban

Thiruvananthapuram: Amidst the pressure on Karnataka government to ease the night traffic ban along the Bandipur tiger reserve, environmentalists in Wayanad have also strongly opposed the move.

Wayanad Prakristhi Samrakshana Samathi (WPSS - Wayanad nature protection forum) said in a statement that the traffic ban was imposed by the court after constant demand of environmentalists and over the last 16 years, it proved to be beneficial too. There is no reason for easing the night ban., but WPSS is against a total traffic ban along the stretch, said the statement.

AICC leadership is learnt to be putting pressure on Karnataka to ease the ban as it has been a constant demand of people of Wayanad, which is now represented by AICC leader Priyanka Gandhi in the Lok Sabha.

Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre recently advised officers to address the humanitarian concerns raised in petitions seeking an end to the night traffic ban. A Wayanad native recently approached the SC seeking relaxation of the night traffic ban. An affidavit filed by the Karnataka forest department favouring the ban was also being revised.

The statement issued by WPSS president N Badusha and secretary Thomas Ambalavayal said that even as Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Sivakumar backed the demand to lift the ban during the election campaign for Priyanka in Wayanad, he was also later silent on the matter.

WPSS alleged that vested interest lobbies were pushing for easing the night traffic ban. "The local people of Wayanad are not backing the demand and hence the stirs staged by raising the issue did not receive much support. The 9 pm to 6 am ban was imposed after detailed studies," said the statement.