KERALA OPPOSES ALTERNATE ROUTE BYPASSING BANDIPUR

Prelims level : National Conservation & Mitigation Mains level : GS-III Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.
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Why in News?

  • The Kerala government has opposed in the Supreme Court an alternative route proposed by Karnataka to bypass the night-time traffic ban on the National Highway 212 through the Bandipur National Park.

Highlights:

  • The Karnataka government had banned night time traffic through Bandipur National Park that connects Kerala with the cites of Mysore and Bangalore.
  • Kerala submitted that the alternative route goes through the Nagarhole Tiger Reserve in Karnataka and Tholpetty wildlife sanctuary in Kerala.
  • It said that the the ban on night traffic through NH 212 issued by the District Magistrate was without any study or preparation.
  • Mudumalai, Bandipur Tiger Reserves and Wayanad Wildlife sanctuary make one contiguous tiger territory and tigers move freely within this area. It is illogical and inappropriate to impose enhanced level of restriction only in one part of this tiger territory to protect tigers.
  • Kerala argued that, if at all any restrictions of vehicular movement is to be done in wildlife areas, it should be done uniformly across the country under the relevant laws such as the Wildlife Protection Act and not under the Motor Vehicles Act.

Bandipur National Park:

  • Bandipur National Park established in 1974 as a tiger reserve under Project Tiger, is a national park located in Karnataka, which is the state with the second highest tiger population in India.
  • Along with adjacent Nagarhole National Park it is one of the premier Tiger Reserves in the country. It was once a private hunting reserve for the Maharaja of the Kingdom of Mysore but has now been upgraded to Bandipur Tiger Reserve.
  • Bandipur is known for its wildlife and has many types of biomes, but dry deciduous forest is dominant. It is a part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
  • The park has a variety of biomes including dry deciduous forests, moist deciduous forests and shrublands. The wide range of habitats help support a diverse range of organisms. The park is flanked by the Kabini river in the north and the Moyar river in the south.
  • The Nugu river runs through the park. The highest point in the park is on a hill called Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta.
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