The Centre has rejected Kerala’s fresh plea for an elevated highway on NH 766 (old number 212), passing through the Bandipur tiger reserve.
In reply to a recent letter of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, expressing concern over the suggestion to strengthen the alternative route passing through forest area, Union Minister for Environment and Forest Prakash Javadekar said that though the alternative route comprising NH 275 and state highway 90 also passed through forest area, but it was not a critical tiger habitat.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority was initiating steps to strengthen the alternative route as per the recent directive of the Supreme Court, which also suggested permanent closure of NH 212 in the long run.
