UDHAGAMANDALAM: Opposing Karnataka’s proposed move to stop night travel on 20 km stretch on NH 67 from Kamnahalli in that state to Kakkanallla in Tamil Nadu, residents, shopkeepers and transport owners will observe a one-day bandh at Gudalur in Nilgiris district on November 28.The Karnataka government has decided to close the highway from 6 pm to 6 am, stating that movement of vehicles was causing injuries to wildlife which frequently cross the roads during nights.In a release, the residents under the banner of Human and Wildlife Survival Movement, termed the move as a violation of human rights of an Assembly constituency of nearly three lakh people, belonging to Tamils, Keralites and Kannadigas.Stating that closure of this Nagapattinam-Gudalur-Mysore Highway would have adverse affect on Gudalur’s economy, affecting business and livelihood of thousands of people, it said powerful headlights at night would certainly prevent animals from coming onto the roads, unlike in daytime where there was more likelihood of accidents involving wildlife. Moreover, transporters have to take a circuitous route of about 200 km, instead of covering a mere 20 km, it claimed.The movement claimed to have support of all political parties and organisations and warned they would intensify their agitation by roping in people in nearby Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu, Waynad in Kerala and Chamrajnagar and Mysore in Karnataka if government went ahead with its proposal.
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