Bandipur: To curb the entry of single-use plastics into forest zones, Forest Minister Eshwar B. Khandre has launched a two-tier vehicle screening system along routes leading to protected areas such as Bandipur and Nagarahole.

Under the system’s first tier, travellers are urged to voluntarily discard single-use plastic items into designated bins before entering the forest. In the second, forest personnel will inspect vehicles and penalties will be imposed if plastic materials are found. Minister Khandre warned that discarded plastics pose a serious threat to wildlife, as animals often ingest them, leading to illness or death.

Forest staff already collect plastic waste daily along forest roads, often risking encounters with wild animals. He expressed confidence that the new system will effectively curb plastic pollution while protecting both wildlife and personnel.