<p>Hassan bandh, called by JD(S) district unit on Saturday to oppose the state government’s move to release water from Hemavathi dam to Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) dam, evoked good response.<br /><br /></p>.<p>A majority of the shops on MG Road, Old Bus Stand Road and MB Road, movie theatres remained closed. Even bus service in the city was stalled. However, post office, government offices, medical shops, schools and colleges functioned normally.<br /><br />The agitators took out a bike rally on the major streets of the city and a large number of party workers, led by former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, took out a march from the Tourists Bungalow and staged a protest near the deputy commissioner’s office.<br /><br />Don’t politicise water issue<br /><br />Addressing the agitators, Deve Gowda said, no one should play politics in connection with drinking water, and called upon all the people, irrespective of political parties, to be united for drinking water. He threatened to stage a protest in front of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s residence in Bengaluru, if the government fails to ensure sufficient drinking water to the people of Hassan district.<br /><br />He alleged that a few political leaders are playing politics in providing drinking water. He said, instead of taking measures, the CM has sought another report over the drought situation in the district.<br /><br />Devegowda said, though the deputy commissioner has the list of the villages facing hardship for water, no meeting has been convened to resolve the issue. The DC has no concern for the people in the district, he blamed.<br /><br />MLA H S Prakash said, the district has been facing acute shortage of water. “Water level at Hemavati dam has reached dead storage and the authorities are pumping the water using motor pump sets. The release of water to the KRS dam in this situation cannot be justified under any circumstances,” he said.<br /><br />MLAs H D Revanna and K M Shivalingegowda, leader Raghu and ZP vice president Srinivas among others were present.</p>
<p>Hassan bandh, called by JD(S) district unit on Saturday to oppose the state government’s move to release water from Hemavathi dam to Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) dam, evoked good response.<br /><br /></p>.<p>A majority of the shops on MG Road, Old Bus Stand Road and MB Road, movie theatres remained closed. Even bus service in the city was stalled. However, post office, government offices, medical shops, schools and colleges functioned normally.<br /><br />The agitators took out a bike rally on the major streets of the city and a large number of party workers, led by former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, took out a march from the Tourists Bungalow and staged a protest near the deputy commissioner’s office.<br /><br />Don’t politicise water issue<br /><br />Addressing the agitators, Deve Gowda said, no one should play politics in connection with drinking water, and called upon all the people, irrespective of political parties, to be united for drinking water. He threatened to stage a protest in front of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s residence in Bengaluru, if the government fails to ensure sufficient drinking water to the people of Hassan district.<br /><br />He alleged that a few political leaders are playing politics in providing drinking water. He said, instead of taking measures, the CM has sought another report over the drought situation in the district.<br /><br />Devegowda said, though the deputy commissioner has the list of the villages facing hardship for water, no meeting has been convened to resolve the issue. The DC has no concern for the people in the district, he blamed.<br /><br />MLA H S Prakash said, the district has been facing acute shortage of water. “Water level at Hemavati dam has reached dead storage and the authorities are pumping the water using motor pump sets. The release of water to the KRS dam in this situation cannot be justified under any circumstances,” he said.<br /><br />MLAs H D Revanna and K M Shivalingegowda, leader Raghu and ZP vice president Srinivas among others were present.</p>
