Bandh call in Karnataka finds few backers, public transport, schools unaffected

A shutdown was called by the Kannada Okkoota on Monday demanding Modi’s intervention to ensure the completion of the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project.

A shutdown called by the Kannada Okkoota, an umbrella body of pro-Kannada organisations, on Monday demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention to ensure the completion of the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project, has found few backers with schools and colleges remaining open and public transport plying across the state.

The Kalasa-Banduri Nala project is being undertaken by Karnataka to utilise 7.56 thousand million cubic feet of water from the inter-state Mahadayi river. (File Photo)

Most farm organisations and trade unions have stayed away, although some of these organisations previously held protests on this issue.

The Kalasa-Banduri Nala project is being undertaken by Karnataka to utilise 7.56 thousand million cubic feet of water from the inter-state Mahadayi river to improve drinking water supply in the twin cities of Hubballi-Dharwad and the districts of Belagavi and Gadag, over which Goa has reservations.

Bengaluru deputy commissioner of police (urban) V Shankar said no holiday will be declared and that he did not expect much trouble. Police have deployed personnel across the state to ensure that peace is maintained.

“We have deployed 75 platoons of the Karnataka State Reserve Police. In Bengaluru alone, we have deployed around 200 hoysalas, police patrol cars,” a senior police official told the Hindustan Times.

The elaborate security arrangements in the city have also been necessitated because Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and vice-president Hamid Ansari are set to visit the city on Monday. Ansari and Gandhi will be in the city to take part in an event to release a commemorative edition of the National Herald newspaper.

The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation has said its buses will ply as usual. An official of the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation said: “We will suspend services if there is any trouble.”

However, the shutdown is expected to affect normal life in the three northern districts of Belagavi, Gadag and Dharwad, which are the intended beneficiaries of the water project.