NHAI asks govt for diversion of forest land in Bandipur Tiger Reserve

26 Aug 2021 CW Team

NHs, NH-181 and NH-766, pass through Bandipur Tiger Reserve, and NH-181 caters to tourists travelling to Ooty and other places.

Guruprasad Timmapur, a wildlife activist, said that the highway expansion plan falls under category A project of the national park according to the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification 2006.

For Bandipur Tiger Reserve, which is an eco-sensitive zone, EAI is needed for widening the roads. However, NHAI claims that no EAI is required for the expansion project, which the conservationists have mentioned as a complete violation of the laws.

The Karnataka High Court has ordered closing the roads at night except emergency vehicles and 16 public transport buses because of the disturbance caused by the vehicles on the highways through Bandipur Tiger Reserve.

Timmapur said that the highway has largely affected wildlife by restricting the movement of animals, wildlife mortality, and accidents, impact on wildlife behaviour, pollution, and noise. Many wildlife species have died on the highways because of the vehicles passing through Bandipur Tiger Reserve.

In a report titled as the Guidelines for Roads in Protected Areas, the sub-committee of the National Board for Wildlife said that the highways should have a status quo, which passes through National Parks and tiger habitats. It also says that the roads should be repaired and maintained in the best ways. It forbids widening or upgrading the highways.

On May 29, in a letter, the executive engineer of NHAI wrote to the assistant executive engineer of NHAI to begin the work without any hindrance from the Forest Department.

But according to the Forest Department, they have not received any proposal regarding the project.

Image Source

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has sought permission from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) for the diversion of forest land of about 24-acre of Bandipur Tiger Reserve, expanding the NH-181 from Melukamanahalli to Kekkanahalla for 13.2 km. NHs, NH-181 and NH-766, pass through Bandipur Tiger Reserve, and NH-181 caters to tourists travelling to Ooty and other places. Guruprasad Timmapur, a wildlife activist, said that the highway expansion plan falls under category A project of the national park according to the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification 2006. For Bandipur Tiger Reserve, which is an eco-sensitive zone, EAI is needed for widening the roads. However, NHAI claims that no EAI is required for the expansion project, which the conservationists have mentioned as a complete violation of the laws. The Karnataka High Court has ordered closing the roads at night except emergency vehicles and 16 public transport buses because of the disturbance caused by the vehicles on the highways through Bandipur Tiger Reserve. Timmapur said that the highway has largely affected wildlife by restricting the movement of animals, wildlife mortality, and accidents, impact on wildlife behaviour, pollution, and noise. Many wildlife species have died on the highways because of the vehicles passing through Bandipur Tiger Reserve. In a report titled as the Guidelines for Roads in Protected Areas, the sub-committee of the National Board for Wildlife said that the highways should have a status quo, which passes through National Parks and tiger habitats. It also says that the roads should be repaired and maintained in the best ways. It forbids widening or upgrading the highways. On May 29, in a letter, the executive engineer of NHAI wrote to the assistant executive engineer of NHAI to begin the work without any hindrance from the Forest Department. But according to the Forest Department, they have not received any proposal regarding the project. Image Source