City Pulse

Mahadayi water row: Bengaluru crippled as bandh hits transport and business

July 30, 2016
  • A 12-hour-bandh called by pro-Kannada and farmers' organisations over Mahadayi water dispute has hit the normal life in state today.

  • Both BMTC and KSRTC, employees of whom had just returned to work on Wednesday after a three-day strike, were forced to suspend services.

  • Pro Kannada Activists led by Vatal Nagaraj take out protest rally from Town Hall to Freedom Park.

  • Film actors participated in the protest rally along with pro-Kannada organisations.

  • Protest held near Kannada Sahitya Parishath.

  • Pro Kannada activists staging protest near Town Hall.

  • Protest held near Sangolli Rayanna Circle.

  • Police security seen near SBM circle.

  • Metro services were also affected.

  • Members of auto rickshaw unions extend their support towards the bandh.

  • Film Theatres remain shut.

  • UB City covered with a net during the bandh.

  • Petrol pumps remained shut.

  • People play cricket on a deserted commercial street.

A 12-hour-bandh called by pro-Kannada and farmers' organisations over Mahadayi water dispute has hit the normal life in state today with transport services coming to halt; theaters, hotels, malls and schools shut in favour of the protest.


The bandh has been called against the interim order of the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal rejecting Karnataka's plea for 7.56 thousand million cubic feet of water for a drinking water project to serve the state's parched northern regions.


The Mahadayi water-sharing dispute has the states of Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka vying for water from the Mahadayi river.


The tribunal, which gave its interim order on Wednesday after hearing arguments from both Karnataka and Goa, had rejected the state's plea citing various grounds including ecological damage that the project may cause.


The Kalasa-Banduri Nala (diversion) project, which will utilise 7.56 tmcft of water from the inter-state Mahadayi River, is being undertaken by Karnataka to improve drinking water supply to the twin cities of Hubballi-Dharwad and the districts of Belagavi and Gadag.


In Bengaluru, transport services were hit since Saturday morning as the bandh was enforced strictly.


Both BMTC and KSRTC, employees of whom had just returned to work on Wednesday after a three-day strike, were forced to suspend services fearing damage to property as well as safety of employees and passengers.


Namma Metro, which saw maximum ridership during the strike this week, was also closed on Saturday as protesters barged into the Sampige Road station and forcibly stopped services around 6.15 a.m.


Kannada film actors and members of various pro-Kannada organisations took out a massive protest rally from Town Hall to Freedom Park.