Karnataka is observing a pan-state bandh on Saturday, with many Kannada and farmers’ organisations downing shutters over implementation of the Kalasa-Bhanduri drinking water project for north Karnataka. The state observed a 12-hour closure from 6 am to 6 pm, demanding quick resolution of the water-sharing dispute with neighbouring states Goa and Maharashtra.
Over the last two months, agitations have been held in north Karnataka, primarily in Hubli-Dharwad and Nargund, asking for early resolution of the crisis. The issue relates to water-sharing of the Mahadayi river that originates in north Karnataka and flows via Goa to the Arabian Sea.
The demand is that about 7 tmc feet of water should be diverted through the Kalasa and Banduri canals to a dam, to serve the drinking water needs of three districts – Belagavi, Hubli-Dharwad and Gadag. The original plan for the project was conceptualised nearly three decades ago. An attempt to inaugurate it in 2006 went into cold storage, after the Goa government questioned it in court.
Meanwhile, the acute drought in 2015 has fuelled protests in north Karnataka, with agitations almost everyday the last two months. Besides farmers and political groups, the film fraternity pitched in as well, holding a road-show last week.
While Saturday’s bandh did not affect activities of corporates or private institutions like schools and colleges – as most of them were closed for Saturday anyway – shops and commercial establishments were shut. The worst hit was public transport – bus services were suspended, and people travelling to Bengaluru from other cities bore the brunt of the bandh – either they had to wait till 6 pm when the bandh is called off, for State-run BMTC buses to resume services – or they were at the mercy of auto-rickshaws and cabs that demanded three to five times the usual rate.
“I’m waiting since 7 am, to go to Yeshwantpur, where I live. I was not aware of the bandh," a passenger waiting at the Majestic bus-station told CNN-IBN. “Autos are asking for 2000 rupees, as I have to go to Jigani, which is about 30 kms. I would rather just wait for the bus, I have no choice," said another commuter caught unawares by the bandh.
Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha leader Vatal Nagaraj, who went in a bullock-cart rally to the Town Hall to address a demonstration, said the State’s MPs are not doing much to put forward Karnataka’s case in the Centre.
“MPs like Vijay Mallya and Venkaiah Naidu are missing. We need early resolution of this issue…. Today’s bandh is totally successful. We want the chief minister Siddaramaiah to meet Prime Minister Modi again and apprise him of the urgency with which this issue should be tackled. If there is no progress, we will hold one more agitation on October 10)," Nagaraj said.
It is the third bandh that Karnataka is seeing in the last two months, and though private transport was not affected much, those depending on public transport were put to much hardship.
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