Wayanad MP and former Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s tweet in support of an indefinite hunger strike by youth organisations against the nine-hour night traffic ban on the National Highway 766 that passes through the Bandipur Tiger Reserve, has angered wildlife activists, who believe that he is going against the order passed by the Supreme Court in August.
“Environment issues are not to be spoken frivolously. This is not a game. When the Supreme Court has upheld the night traffic ban in Bandipur, why is he stepping in? During elections, he was against the move and suddenly he has taken a U-turn,” said a wildlife activist.
He said that the pressure is being mounted by the lorry lobby that makes money out of it. “The SC has made an observation that if Karnataka wants, there could be a 24-hour ban, but alternatives should be explored. There is no 24-hour ban. The ban is only from 9 pm to 6 am. Mr Gandhi’s statement is ridiculous,” he said.
The Supreme Court has said that the Centre should come up with permanent measures so that the highways do not pass through core areas of forest reserves.
But the night traffic ban does not impose any no restriction on the movement of emergency vehicles and transport buses.
On the request of Kerala government, the Karnataka government has developed an alternative route spending Rs 75 crore.
“Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi took great steps towards forest conservation and it does not behove her grandson to be making such sweeping statements. The wood mafia has been making night ban an issue for a long time. The entire ban is imposed keeping the wildlife conservation in mind. The night ban should stay,” said Project Vruksha founder Vijay Nishanth.
The alternative route is 30 km long and the previous chief ministers have taken a concerted stand to keep the highways passing through forest reserves closed during night.
