Bandipur: Ministry ‘overlooks’ key issues

Bandipur: Ministry ‘overlooks’ key issues

News:

1. According to NTCA report, ban on night traffic has reduced road kill

Important facts:

1. Recently, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), has proposed to the Andhra Pradesh government to lift the ban on night traffic through Bandipur.
2. The ban overlooked key issues brought to light in reports by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and other agencies, including the local police.
3. The number of death cases declined after the introduction of the ban.
4. The NTCA, is a part of the committee constituted by the apex court to look into the night traffic ban.
5. The NTCA in its report stated that wild animals such as tigers, elephants, gaurs, and other animals had behaviorally adjusted to the restricted traffic at night time.
6. This was beneficial to the long-term conservation of these species.
7. There are objections to the alternative road via Hunsur-Gonikoppal-Kutta and Mananthavady on the grounds that it was longer.
8. The NTCA noted that the distance should be calculated from Mysuru and not from the boundary of the Bandipur tiger reserve.
9. The activists said the people in Wayanad have for a very long time been going to Kozhikode and Ernakulam districts for medical and emergency needs.
10. Bandipur has 25 major mammal species and each has its own migratory path.
11. According to D.Rajkumar, Wildlife Conservation Foundation, the ban on night traffic through Bandipur should not be lifted as it benefits both wildlife and tourism.