State backs traffic curbs in Bandipur

The state government on Monday told the Karnataka high court that any ban on night traffic in Bandipur National Park would go a long way in helping protect wildlife.

Advocate-general Ashok Haranahalli submitted that the alternative roads suggested were motorable. A majority of the vehicles plying between Mysore and Madikeri were using this road, according to the advocate-general.

The court was hearing a joint public interest litigation filed by Anup BS and Wayanad Prakrithi Samrakshana Samithi, Sultan Battery, Kerala. A division bench headed by justice V Gopala
Gowda adjourned the matter to Tuesday.

However, the counsel for Kerala transporters told the court that the alternative roads were in bad condition and could not be used for transportation. “The forest department should be thinking of removing the encroachments rather than asking transporters to stop plying their vehicles,” they said, adding,

“Till the alternative roads are repaired, there should be some provisions to help public utilise the forest roads.”