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Bandipur: Ministry ‘overlooks’ key issues
News:
- According to NTCA report, ban on night traffic has reduced road kill
Important facts:
- 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.
- The ban overlooked key issues brought to light in reports by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and other agencies, including the local police.
- The number of death cases declined after the introduction of the ban.
- The NTCA, is a part of the committee constituted by the apex court to look into the night traffic ban.
- 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.
- This was beneficial to the long-term conservation of these species.
- There are objections to the alternative road via Hunsur-Gonikoppal-Kutta and Mananthavady on the grounds that it was longer.
- The NTCA noted that the distance should be calculated from Mysuru and not from the boundary of the Bandipur tiger reserve.
- 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.
- Bandipur has 25 major mammal species and each has its own migratory path.
- 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.