Bundh total in DK dist

No pvt buses, few autos plied; KSRTC service as usual

The nation-wide bundh called by various trade unions opposing the escalation of prices of essential commodities saw outstanding response in Dakshina Kannada district.

Barring some stray incidents of stone pelting in the morning, the bundh was peaceful.
Most of the private buses remained off road supporting the bundh and people had to manage to reach places banking on KSRTC buses.

As many as six buses, including five KSRTC and one private bus were damaged during stone pelting by miscreants at various parts of the city early in the morning.

Throughout the day, the roads remained deserted with only few vehicles plying, cutting off the usual traffic snarls. Some youngsters on their speedy bikes were seen making best use of the empty roads by ripping off at high speed, which is otherwise quite difficult.

Despite the stone pelting, KSRTC provided service on all its routes as usual even covering remote places. KSRTC divisional controller M Ramesh informed that the division functioned normally without any glitches and all the 150 departures were conducted as usual. He said that due to the bundh, the number of commuters was comparatively lesser. Seven trips on Mangalore-Bangalore route had to be cancelled for various reasons.

As far as autos are concerned, since most of the drivers are associated with one or the other trade union, there were very few autos providing service in the city.

Some autos were parked near railyway station and KSRTC stand and it is said that the drivers made hay while the sun shone charging hefty amount for carrying passengers.
Busy places like State Bank and Bunder wore sullen look owing to the bundh

No traders turned up at these business hubs responding to the bundh. Meanwhile, in the city, couple of bakeries, hotels and shops were open catering to the daily requirements of the people.

Since schools had declared holiday, children were seen playing at most of the apartment basements and at the gullies. However, the banks and other government set ups were found functioning with skeletal staff.

In Surathkal
MRPL-ONGC Karmachar Sangh extended support to the bundh and held public meet at Cargo Gate of MRPL on Tuesday.

Sangh General Secretary Prashanth said that MRPL-ONGC, which is a government company, has been neglecting the labourers. He said that though a team from State Government had visited the Company and recommended action against the anti-labour policy of the Company, no action had been taken.

Control of prices, packages to create employment opportunities, effective implementation of labour laws etc were some of the demands of the Sangh, which were forwarded to the Centre through Petroleum Gas Workers’ Federation. Most of the shops remained closed in Puttur, Vittal and Bantwal too.