CHENNAI: The green IIT-Madras campus is seeing blood. In the last 12 days, two deer and a monkey fell prey to speeding vehicles on the campus.
And the IIT administration seems to be in the woods as the population of animals -- now 350 -- is rising with that of the vehicles frequenting the campus. More than 1,500 vehicles move around the 650-acre campus every day, of which 200 cars and 800 two-wheelers belong to residents of the campus.
"It is often the outsiders' vehicles that injure or kill animals," says IIT registrar A Thirunavukkarasu. "Campus residents are familiar with the deer-crossing spots and hence they are careful. But others, like parents who come in private vehicles to drop their children at the two central schools on the campus are not always safe drivers."
The speed-brakers don't appear to have helped much, especially in the mornings and evenings when heavy traffic pose a threat to animals. "We have suggested to impose strict restrictions on entry of private vehicles. We are also trying to create awareness about animal movements and reduce vehicular movement on the campus," says Thirunavakkarasu. More than 5,000 students study at the two central schools on the campus.
Heavy construction work on the campus has apparently added to the strain on the ecosystem. Heavy vehicles carrying construction materials criss-cross the campus. "Our security guards escort heavy vehicles and tell the drivers the speed limit, which is 40 kmph," the registrar adds.
Forest officials feel the speed limits should be brought down. "Most of the vehicles now speed up to 60 km per hour, leading to accidents. Inside the premises, the speed limit should not be more 20 km," says Velachery division forest range officer S Davidraj.
Students and faculties point to another threat to the deer population: stray dogs. "We spotted the body of a fawn on Tuesday. It was killed by dogs," said Pratheesh, a student living on the campus. Fences put up around some quarters also become hurdles for deer trying to escape from packs of dogs.
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