New Delhi: The Ministry of Environment and Forests has turned down the Kerala government’s demand to open a 24-hour road traffic through the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve in Karnataka, which connects Wayanad district with Mysore, fearing ecological imbalance in the park.
At present, traffic is not allowed between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. on the 33-km stretch through the reserve.
The decision taken by the Karnataka government three months ago in the interest of the wildlife in the reserve had left the Kerala government fuming as the stretch under dispute is part of a 115-km road that joins Mysore in Karnataka with Wayanad in Kerala.
The Kerala government alleged that the closure of the road in the night was hampering business as vehicles were forced to take a longer route which, it claimed, was more expensive.
With Karnataka authorities sticking to their decision, Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan sought the Environment Ministry’s intervention in the matter.
“We have supported the closure of the road in the interest of the wildlife in the reserve spread over 445 sq.km., which is a hub of two reputed wildlife schemes — Project Elephant and Project Tiger,” said a senior official from the Environment Ministry.
“Opening up of the route for 24 hours will increase traffic frequency in the area and consequent pressure on the ungulates and predators,” the official said.
The park’s animals are already under threat due to speeding vehicles in the daytime and there have been cases of animals being hit on the road.
The World Bank had made an environmental impact assessment of the road two years ago in which it said traffic had an adverse and hazardous impact on wildlife.
“It had also suggested mitigating measures such as check on vehicular movement as well their speed to ensure that animals are not knocked down,” a senior official of the Nagarahole reserve said on condition of anonymity.
One of the finest remaining habitats of the Asiatic elephant and Royal Bengal tigers, Nagarahole is situated in the Deccan Plateau and forms an integral part of the Nilgiri biosphere.
Home to rare birds too
More than 300 bird species have been reported in Nagarahole, including rare ones like Blue Face Malkhoa, White-cheeked Barbet and Nilgiri Flycatcher. — PTI
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