Kadapa: Lifting of traffic restrictions in forest area urged

Kadapa: Continuation of restrictions on vehicular movement on the road between Sidhavatam- Badvel in Kadapa district has been causing inconvenience to the people of 26 villages. The road also includes Lanka Malleswara forest covering a length of 15 km in Sidhavatam and Atluru mandals.

On 25th January 2020, forest staff discharging duties at check post were critically injured as they were attacked by a bear. There was a delay in shifting them to hospital due to traffic restrictions.

During the rule of former Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy, the state government had launched special operations for protecting the birds of Jerdon Courser (Kalivi Kodi) by spending huge amount.

In this connection, the government had imposed traffic restrictions on the forest road and accordingly vehicles were not allowed on the road during nights. After the death of Rajasekhar Reddy, the project was ignored. But the traffic restriction continued on the road in forest area.

Local social activists submitted representations to officials of Forest department urging them to lift the traffic restrictions on the road. "Our requests were ignored, " said Venkatasubbaiah of Sidhavatam to The Hans India.

Local people YV Chalapathi and A Mohan suggest that government can construct iron fencing and set up nets to prevent wild animals passing on the road.

Kalivi Kodi is one of the rarest birds existing in the Lankamalleswara forest area of Kadapa district.