Bangalore and several parts of Karnataka came to a standstill was affected in India’s IT capital and other parts of Karnataka on Saturday following a 12-hour statewide bandh called by several pro-Kannada outfits demanding implementation of Kalasa Banduri canal project.
Public transport unions supported the bandh, while buses were not plying, auto rickshaws and taxis remained scarce. Trains were reportedly blocked at Mysore, Hassan, Hubballi, Dharwad and Tumkuru stations.
Private schools and colleges had declared a holiday and remained shut.
Vatal Nagaraj,Kannada Okkoota president called the bandh successful and said, “Calling for bandh was necessary to protect the interests of people of Karnataka.” The bone of contention being the Goa government objection to the Kalasa-Banduri Nala (diversion) project, which will use 7.56tmcft of water from the inter-state Mahadayi river being undertaken by Karnataka to improve drinking water supply to the twin cities of Hubballi and Dharwad and the districts of Belagavi and Gadag.
The project involves building barrages across Kalasa and Banduri, tributaries of Mahadayi river, to divert 7.56tmcft to Malaprabha river, which supplies drinking water needs of the twin cities. Goa has objected to the project being taken up by Karnataka. Karnataka government showed tacit support to the Bandh “I once again urge the Prime Minister to take the initiative and call for a tripartite meeting with the two other State CMs to resolve this issue,” he said. Siddaramaiah urged the activists and farmers to drop their agitations as the State government has taken every possible measure in trying to resolve the issue. “We are already filing an interim application with the Mahadayi River Tribunal in this regard. we have written a letter to PM, and will write another one if need be. Now it is a decision which the PM has to take or wait for the tribunal to give its verdict. I ask the activists and farmers to drop their agitations,” he said.
While the Bandh was largely peaceful , about 4,500 officials and police personnel were deployed in the city together with 63 platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police and City Reserve Police Force.