HYDERABAD: Telangana government has constituted a four-member committee to study the impact of relaxing ban on movement of heavy vehicles through the 60km stretch of Kawal Tiger Reserve. Agitated wildlife activists said this was a clear indication of the government's intention to throw open the passage through the tiger reserve for heavy vehicles at the cost of wildlife.
Presently , there is a ban on movement of heavy vehicles during the day through the 60-km tiger reserve but other local traffic is allowed to move. However, there is a ban on all types of vehicular traffic during night on this route.
"We had opposed the proposal to consider lifting of ban in the State Wildlife Board meeting. Yet, the government has constituted the committee. It is not correct to do so particularly when there is an alternate road available," said Worldwide Fund for Nature, India, state director Farida Tampal.
Dismissing the argument of officials that there was local pressure from surrounding villages to open the road through the tiger reserve as it would kick up economic development in villages, Tampal asked why wildlife or forest has to be made the sacrificial goat every time.
Imran Siddiqui of Hyderabad Tiger Conservation Society said, "Allowing movement of heavy vehicles may result in dhaba culture and truck drivers may start cooking. The chances of poaching animals for their flesh to be served at dhabas would also increase," he said. Incidentally, Siddiqui is one of the four members of the state-appointed body .
National Highways Authorities of India project director Hamid Ali said they would lose lakhs in revenue in the form of toll tax if the road through tiger reserve is opened for heavy vehicles as truck drivers would avoid at least 2-3 toll plazas on NH-44 by taking the tiger reserve road.
