The Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary in Idukki district has become the first wildlife pocket in the country to be covered by a disaster management plan to protect its wildlife from roadkills.
An order in this connection was issued by Idukki Collector A. Kausikan on May 28 in his capacity as chairman of the Idukki District Disaster Management Authority.
The order was issued in view of the 85 cases of roadkills on a 15-km State highway stretch passing through the wildlife sanctuary. Though a speed limit of 30 kmph is in force for vehicles on this stretch, it has been followed more in the breach causing the roadkills, forest officers said.
The situation prompted the residents of the eight tribal colonies inside the sanctuary and Munnar Wildlife Warden G. Prasad to submit a petition to the Collector seeking his intervention to prevent the road from becoming a death trap for animals.
The petition was on the grounds that the Forest Department alone may not be able to address the issue effectively. The Collector brought the matter under the purview of the disaster management authority and issued the order within a week. As per the order, officials of the Forest, Police, and the Motor Vehicles Department have to ensure that vehicles passing through the 15-km stretch from Karimutti to Chinnar adhere to the speed restrictions.
To make the speed limit more effective, bitumen speed breakers will be erected along the stretch wherever possible by the road authorities in consultation with the Munnar Wildlife Warden. Boards stressing the need to follow the speed curbs and its impact on the wildlife will be erected. Use of air horns will be strictly banned and no unauthorised parking of vehicles will be allowed on the stretch.
