Karnataka says no for night traffic through Bandipur Tiger Reserve

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government Tuesday turned down a request from Kerala to allow night traffic in a road passing through Bandipur Tiger Reserve citing potential danger to wild animals.

At a meeting of forest officials of three states, Keralaraised the plea for lifting the ban on night traffic saying it was hampering state's economy. But officials of Karnataka rejected it and said the status quo (ban on night traffic) would continue, Karnataka Principal chief conservator of forest Punati Sridhar told PTI.

He said officials of Tamil Nadu endorsed the stand of Karnataka."Kerala has been insisting that their economy is getting affected.

But we said for the sake of conservation, some sacrifice will have to be made," he said.

Night traffic through Bandipur Tiger Reserve, located in Mysore and Chamrajnagar districts in Karnataka, has been a contentious issue between Kerala and Karnataka.

The Bandipur road connecting Sulthan Batheri in Kerala with Mysuru and Bengaluru is the shortest route. The alternative route in the night takes a long detour, which the traders from Kerala want to avoid.

Besides Sridhar, Kerala Principal Conservator of Forest P K Kesavan, Inspector General of Forest P S Somashekara, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve Field Officer R Srinivas Reddy were among those who attended the meeting Tuesday.

Kerala Transport Secretary K R Jyothilal was also present.Bandipura is a tiger reserve under Project Tiger located at the tri-junction area of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the Western Ghat.

Karnataka government is not allowing night traffic through the forested region, inhabiting wild animals including tiger, leopards and elephants to prevent their deaths in possible road accidents.