Bandipur: No going back on the ban

The recent meeting of Forest Department officers convened by Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre regarding the affidavit to be filed in the Supreme Court on the night vehicle ban through the Bandipur National Park has stirred widespread concern. Bandipur boasts of a rich biodiversity with over 100 species of trees, 43 species of mammals, and more than 200 species of birds. The park serves as a habitat for endangered species such as tigers. Environmentalists fear that the government is attempting to dilute or lift the ban, despite clear judicial orders and ecological benefits associated with its enforcement. The Supreme Court and the Karnataka High Court had previously ordered restrictions on vehicular movement through this core tiger reserve, allowing only four vehicles each from Karnataka and Kerala, apart from emergency services, from 9 pm to 6 am. In compliance with these orders, Karnataka has already developed an alternative route connecting Mysuru to Wayanad, via Hunsur, Gonikoppa, Kutta and Sultan Bathery though it is 35 km longer than the existing highway. While Tamil Nadu has respected the ban in its territory, Kerala has persistently sought to lift the ban citing economic and logistical concerns.

Recently, a Wayanad resident approached the Supreme Court seeking relaxation of the restrictions. Meanwhile, the Karnataka government’s decision to withdraw an affidavit that supported the ban has raised eyebrows. The government claims that the affidavit was recalled on technical grounds, as the officer who filed it lacked authorisation. However, environmentalists suspect political pressure, especially since top Congress leaders from Kerala, including past and present Wayanad MPs Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, have advocated lifting the ban.

Scientific data and ground realities strongly favour the continuation of the ban. Since its enforcement, wildlife-vehicle collisions have significantly declined. Revoking the ban or increasing vehicular traffic will reverse this progress, leading to more animal fatalities, and undermining years of conservation efforts. The ban was imposed after extensive studies on the detrimental effects of nocturnal vehicular movement on wildlife. Moreover, the availability of an alternative route negates any compelling argument against the ban. Khandre has been one of the most proactive forest ministers in recent years. This issue presents a crucial test of his commitment to conservation. He must resist political pressure and uphold the larger cause of environmental protection. The Bandipur night ban is scientifically justified, legally upheld, and ecologically necessary. The Karnataka government must stand firm in its commitment to protecting Bandipur’s rich biodiversity and ensure that political compulsions do not override ecological imperatives. The ban must stay.