Of late, banning things seems have to become quite the craze in India. But here’s one ban that should stay: the night traffic ban at Bandipur National Park.
The reason? Speeding vehicles are crushing animals to death. The pictures below are some of the least gross images we could share from what is hailed as one of India’s most beautiful and best managed national parks.
NH-212/ NH-67 is the highway that passes through the Bandipur National Park in Karnataka which borders Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Vehicles on the highway are banned from entering the park between 6:00 pm and 6:00 am. Anyone who has driven on these roads will tell you that sightings of animals like deer and elephants, and birds like the peacock are very common.
While we fail to acknowledge the fact that we are trespassing into a wildlife territory for the sake of our convenience, traders and businessmen from these states say that the ban is affecting their business, especially that of agricultural produce.
Recently, the Chief Minister of Kerala met the Karnataka Chief Minister and requested for the ban to be eased. Though the Karnataka CM said that Karnataka cannot take an independent decision as the issue is pending before the Supreme Court, he is said to have stated that he would hold talks with the Karnataka forest officials and other experts in the field and consider Kerala’s request for relaxation of ban in two months.
If this ban is repealed or even relaxed to serve the interests of business, the damage to the already fragile wildlife biodiversity will continue to mount. Look what rash drivers are doing to the often helpless animals. Before it’s too late, let’s tell the government to hang on to the ban!
