Bengaluru: Is 'politics' behind the move to lift the night ban on movement of vehicles through Bandipur National Park? If sources are to be believed, there is pressure on Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy from Janata Dal (Secular) leaders of Kerala to do it in view of the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. The issue of ban on night traffic via Bandipur has been the topic of discussion between Kerala and Karnataka. Since 2004, almost all the CMs from Kerala have come to Bengaluru to request Karnataka to lift the ban as it had been hampering movement of goods and passengers. However, the CMs of Karnataka had categorically said 'No.'
The Supreme Court, after consulting all stake holders, had imposed a ban on movement of vehicles between Karnataka and Kerala via Bandipur, after several wild animals were run over by heavy vehicles. A senior forest officer on the condition of anonymity sought to know why Mr Kumaraswamy was in a great hurry to revoke the ban when he was aware of its consequences on wildlife. He claimed that during his recent visit to Kerala, the CM had a meeting with his party leaders in Kerala where they wanted him to revoke night ban keeping in view the coming Lok Sabha polls.
Though, Mr Kumaraswamy was non-committal on this sensitive issue, his brother and PWD Minister H.D. Revanna came out with a plan to construct flyovers and steel bridges at several places and open it for traffic 24X7 so that it would not cause any problems to wild animals. He also went to the extent of saying that the Kerala government had agreed to share the cost of construction that comes to around Rs 400 crore.
"It's a foolish idea to have either a flyover or steel bridge inside the protected forest which houses the endangered tigers. In fact, the Supreme Court is personally monitoring this. The Karnataka government has built an alternative road to reach Kerala via Makutta for the movement of vehicles. It will be an additional 40 km through that road and it is not a big thing when it comes to conservation of forests". He opined that allowing structures inside the forest was like opening the gates for nefarious activities including transportation of timber. Presently, two buses each from Karnataka and Kerala are allowed to pass through the forest after the closure of gates of the park, for the sake of passengers.
