Mangaluru, May 19: Over two years after entire Dakshina Kannada observed bandh against Yettinahole water diversion project, it shut down almost completely and voluntarily for the second time on Thursday for the same cause.
The bandh appears to be total in Mangaluru and all taluk headquarters in the district. Private buses and auto-rickshaws remained off the roads not only in city but also in rural areas.
The people across the coastal district are positively responding to the bandh call given by the Nethravathi Rakshana Samyukta Samithi and likeminded organisations opposing the controversial project. A majority of the organisations in the region have extended their support to the bandh.
Activists fear that the project, aimed at diverting about 24 tmcft of water from Nethravati's tributaries for the benefit of parched districts would dry up the river — considered the lifeline of the district, with Mangalore solely depending on it for drinking water.
Essential services – including hospital and ambulance services – milk and newspaper supplies, however, are unlikely to be affected by the bandh.
Shops, educational institutions and business establishments in the district remained closed. Shopping malls and restaurants in the city downed their shutters as a mark of support to the opposition to Yettinahole project.
Roads in Mangaluru city and other taluk headquarters wore a deserted look. Members of the Samiti and other organisations held protests at many places demanding the government to scrap Yettinahole project. Samiti members blocked Mangaluru-Mumbai National Highway at Surathkal.
Public transportation was severely hit with KSRTC and private buses remaining off the road. Protesters threw stones at a Volvo bus, plying between Tirupati and Mangaluru, near the Ambedkar Circle in the city. People were seen stranded at KSRTC bus stand at Bejai. However, a few private vehicles were plying in Mangaluru.
Train passengers who alighted at the city railway station managed to get private taxis in the absence of autorickshaws but had to pay hefty amount. With all restaurants in the city closed, the railway cafeteria and business hotels witnessed a huge rush. "We had more than the usual crowd for breakfast and lunch,'' said Girish BN, GM, Hotel Ocean Pearl.
Software major Infosys closed operations in its two campuses at Mudipu and Kottara Chowki. The bandh also evoked good response in interior places of Puttur, Sullia, Bantwal and Belthangady taluks of Dakshina Kannada.
Deputy Commissioner AB, who has given green signal for voluntary bandh, also warned of stringent action against those who try to forcefully impose the bandh and take law into their hands.
The district units of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (Secular) have supported the bandh. While the Congress has not openly supported it, many of its leaders are active members of the samithi.
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