The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has sought permission from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) for the diversion of forest land of about 24-acre of Bandipur Tiger Reserve, expanding the NH-181 from Melukamanahalli to Kekkanahalla for 13.2 km.
NHs, NH-181 and NH-766, pass through Bandipur Tiger Reserve, and NH-181 caters to tourists travelling to Ooty and other places.
Guruprasad Timmapur, a wildlife activist, said that the highway expansion plan falls under category A project of the national park according to the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification 2006.
For Bandipur Tiger Reserve, which is an eco-sensitive zone, EAI is needed for widening the roads.
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