Sun Mar 23 12:00:09 UTC 2025: **Karnataka Forest Official’s Unauthorized Affidavit Threatens Bandipur Night Traffic Ban**
Bengaluru, March 23, 2025 – A senior Karnataka forest official’s unauthorized attempt to file an affidavit with the Supreme Court advocating the lifting of the night traffic ban through Bandipur Tiger Reserve has sparked controversy. The action, undertaken without government consent, has drawn strong criticism and prompted an emergency meeting convened by Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre.
The Minister warned officials against unilateral actions, emphasizing that decisions regarding the continuation or removal of the decade-old ban are policy matters requiring government approval. The official, a Conservator of Forests, has reportedly been reprimanded. This incident marks the second instance of IFS officers taking independent action without government consent, according to sources.
The government is reportedly facing pressure from Kerala Congress leaders, particularly following Priyanka Gandhi’s recent Lok Sabha victory in Wayanad, to lift the ban. A Supreme Court petition also seeks the ban’s removal. While a report on the ban’s pros and cons was requested in February, it remains outstanding.
BJP MP Tejaswi Surya criticized the Congress government, alleging it is bowing to pressure from its Kerala allies and jeopardizing Bandipur’s conservation efforts. He highlighted the 2019 Supreme Court directive upholding the ban and emphasized the availability of alternative routes. Surya asserted that the government’s actions represent a “sellout to vested interests” and accused the Congress party of using Karnataka’s forests as “bargaining chips.” The high traffic density through Bandipur, exacerbated by the lack of speed restrictions and road humps, further underscores the environmental concerns raised by lifting the night ban.
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