Kozhikode: The Supreme Court considering petitions of travel and trade groups for lifting the ban on night traffic through NH 212 and NH 67 on Wednesday ordered respondents to constitute a committee to submit suggestions within two months on alternatives without causing any damage to wildlife in the jungle region.
The secretaries of forest ministry in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, apart from Union ministries of environment and forest and surface transport will be members of the committee formed in a month.
The SC would consider the case after two months. The order has been hailed as providing a win-win situation.
The complainants of the case, the state government, Nilgiri-Wayanad National Highway and Railway Action Council and Ooty Hotel Owners Association, can submit their suggestions to the committee.
The complainants approached the SC against an order of the Karnataka High Court on March 13, 2010, banning night traffic. The SC also accepted the prayer of the action council to grant permission to join as a party in the dispute.
Meanwhile, the action council in a press release said the order is a recognition to the earlier suggestions of the action council on alternatives.
"Issuing the order, the SC has urged all to seek alternatives to ensure human movement as well as less damage to the ecosystem," it said.
"We had already submitted suggestions to set up a bio-flyovers and corridors to allow the vehicles as well as animal movement in the region."
The action council also urged the state government to ensure timely intervention to submit the report on alternatives to the SC-appointed panel.
