HC rejects plea for bus service from Vandiperiya

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday refused the plea of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) to operate bus service from Vandiperiyar to Pulmedu.A Division Bench comprising Justice Thottathil B Radhakrishnan and Justice C T Ravikumar passed the order while considering the interim application of KSRTC seeking to allow it to operate the bus service to Pulmedu (Uppupara) from Vandiperiyar. The High Court had earlier banned vehicle movement through the route in the wake of pulmedu tragedy. The Ayyappa Seva Sanghom had also sought a directive to operate bus services through the route.The Forest Department had opposed the proposal to operate vehicular traffic on the route. They said that it would endanger the flora and  fauna of the area. Since the route was passing through the Periyar tiger reserve, it would badly affect the animals in the forest.“The 4th mile to Uppupara region comes under the Periyar tiger reserve and so vehicular movement through the region will adversely affect the flora and fauna in the region,” the bench said. The court also held that it is for the government to decide whether vehicles could be permitted from Vandiperiyar to Sathram.