12 hour shutdown in Karnataka over water supply

By NewsGram Staff Writer

Bengaluru: Several social outfits in Karnataka have called for a 12-hour shutdown on Saturday in an attempt for getting water supplied to three parched districts in the state's northern region.

The action will affect the routine life in the state when a dawn-to-dusk shut down will be observed for implementing the Kalasa-Banduri canal project to supply drinking water to Belagavi, Dharwad and Gadag district.

Kannada Vatal Paksha president Vatal Nagaraj informed media, "Schools, colleges, hotels, shops, markets, malls, theatres and petrol pumps will remain closed in support of our bandh call. A rally will be taken out from Town Hall to Freedom Park in Bengaluru where a public meeting will be held to inform the people on the urgency of the project."

The daylong shutdown is planned with the support of about 1,000 organisations, including social and cultural associations, industry and trade unions and pro-Kannada activists. State-run buses, autos, and taxis will also not operate from 6 AM to 6 PM in cities and towns across the state.

The project involves building barrages across Kalasa and Banduri tributaries of Mahadayi River to divert 7.6 tmc (thousand million cubic) feet of water to Malaprabha River for supplying it to the three northern districts.

Nagaraj further said, "After the public meeting, we will submit a memorandum to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to urge the BJP-ruled Central and Goa governments to allow us to build the canal project as people, especially farmers are reeling under drought due to deficit monsoon this year."

The state-run transport corporation will not ply buses to Goa from Dharwad, Belagavi, Karwar and other places as a precautionary measure and ensure safety of passengers and its vehicles.

"Though lorry and other transport associations have decided to support our call by not plying their vehicles, we have exempted essential supplies such as milk, vegetables, food grains and groceries from the shut down. Also the movement of ambulances will not be obstructed," Nagaraj said.

Security has been beefed up across the state and additional forces have been deployed in cities like Bengaluru, Mysore, Hubballi, Dharward, Belagavi and Gadag to prevent any untoward incident and ensure a peaceful shut down.

With inputs from IANS