Nature enthusiasts call for speed restrictions on Anaikatti Road to end roadkills

Nature enthusiasts call for speed restrictions on Coimbatore-Mannarkkad Road, which passes through reserve forest areas at Anaikatti, to save animals. As roadkills getting reported frequently, they call want speed breakers to be instaled on the ghat section.

The recent roadkill of a spotted deer by a speeding car on Anaikatti ghat section on the Coimbatore – Mannarkkad Road is reaffirming the need to impose speed restrictions to save the wildlife, according to nature enthusiasts.

A deer was fatally knocked down by a car on November 2 evening when a family was heading to Thondamuthur along the inter-State road, which passes through reserve forest areas. The Forest Department imposed a fine of ₹5,000 on the man who drove the car.

In August, a gaur died after it was knocked down by a truck on the inter-State road near the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History.

“The road is passing through habitats of a large variety of animals, birds, reptiles and insects. Besides the large herbivores like elephant and gaur, the forest is home to small animals, including porcupine and mongoose, birds and snakes. During the migration season of butterflies, large numbers of them die after being hit by speeding vehicles,” K. Mohanraj.

According to him, laying speed breakers at frequent intervals, especially on the straight stretches where motorists tend to increase speed, can be a permanent speed restriction measure.

N. Sadiq Ali of the Wildlife and Nature Conservation Trust also wanted authorities to install adequate numbers of speed breakers on the ghat section.

“The Forest Department should also conduct routine patrols at frequent intervals on the road. Surveillance cameras, similar to the ones fixed in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, can also be used to monitor vehicular movement and possible illegal activities,” he said.