Siroya urges government not to lift Bandipur night ban

Bengaluru

BJP MP Lahar Singh Siroya has urged the Karnataka government to resist political pressure and not lift the night-time traffic ban through Bandipur National Park. His appeal came a day after environmentalists, Kannada Chalavali (Vatal Paksha), and Karnataka Raitha Sangha held a protest in Gundlupet, opposing any move to remove the ban.

Siroya stressed that Bandipur Tiger Reserve is a symbol of Karnataka's strong commitment to protecting biodiversity. “The state should remain committed to wildlife protection,” he stated.

Quoting a Wildlife Conservation Foundation study, Siroya pointed out that 286 animals were killed between 2005 and 2007 in road accidents. The night traffic ban was implemented in 2009 to prevent such deaths and was upheld by the Supreme Court.

“The night ban on NH-766 has proven highly effective in curbing wildlife fatalities. Between 2010 and 2018, only 34 deaths were reported,” he added. He recalled that the Supreme Court reaffirmed this ban in 2019 when Kerala challenged it.

Siroya alleged that recent developments hint at attempts to lift the ban, citing Karnataka Deputy CM D K Shivakumar’s comments in November 2024 and instructions allegedly given by AICC’s K C Venugopal to ease restrictions.

He criticized Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for staying silent, saying, “Instead of prioritising conservation, the Congress government appears to be focused on pleasing the Congress first family. This is a betrayal of Karnataka's environmental values and past Congress leaders’ legacy.”

He also noted that all previous Karnataka governments, regardless of party, had respected the ban for ecological protection.