14 years since Bandipur night traffic ban; travel woes continue for Malayalees

SULTAN BATHERY: 14 years have gone by since the night travel ban on the Bandipur section of National Highway 766, which connects Kerala and Karnataka. The decision has only aggravated the travel woes of locals in the Kerala border.

The Kerala government continues pressurising tactics to see the ban lifted while a clique of environmentalists are vociferously demanding the permanent closure of the road. About 2,000 vehicles travel this road daily.

The case is in its final stages of hearing. The verdict has been postponed several times. The last time the case was filed, the court suggested that both governments reach a consensus and resolve the issue. Meanwhile, an individual approached the Supreme Court to become a party to the case. The court asked the Karnataka government whether it had formed any new position regarding the case.

The Bandipur Tiger Reserve director gave an affidavit reiterating the old stance and even expressed willingness to close the road on a permanent basis. However, he made a strange volte-face the next day.

The ban came to effect considering the complaint that almost 91 wild animals were killed by vehicles on the Bandipur road between 2004 and 2007. The then Chamaraj Nagar District Collector banned night travel on the 19.5 km stretch from Moolehole to Mathur. The ban was observed from 9 pm to 6 am.

The ban came into effect on July 27, 2009. Following the intervention of the then Sultan Bathery MLA P. Krishnaprasad, the order was temporarily withdrawn. Environmental activists again approached the Karnataka High Court with a petition. The court then upheld the Collector's order.

The Kerala Assembly passed a resolution demanding the lifting of the ban. The ban affected the districts of Kozhikode, Wayanad and Malappuram the most.

• People in Kerala’s border regions depend on Mysore and Bengaluru districts for commercial needs. People in Gundalpete also come to the Wayanad district in search of employment.

• Freight movement has also been affected. Goods vehicles from Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Hyderabad and Karnataka depend on this route.