Normal life was disrupted in Dharwad on Saturday as the bandh call demanding Mahadayi-Malaprabha river linking and Kalasa-Banduri nala diversion projects evoked good response.
More than 35 different organisations under the umbrella of Mahadayi and Kalasa-Banduri Project Implementation Agitation Committee had called for the bandh.
Shops and commercial establishments had downed their shutters while most of the educational institutions remained closed. The busy market area, Jubilee Circle, Court Circle, Gandhi Chowk wore a deserted look as vehicles including autos and Bendre buses did not venture onto roads. However, government offices and banks functioned as usual but with very thin crowds. Long-distance buses were diverted through bypass. Commuters had a harrowing time as there no mode of conveyance, public or private. Hospitals functioned normally but the medical shop owners had declared their support to the bandh.
The members of various organisations took out a rally from Kalabhavan, waded through the market areas and assembled in front of the deputy commissioner’s office. People from a cross section of society including pontiffs of various organisations took part in the protest. The protesters submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner, addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
They said that the project, if implemented, would quench the thirst of 13 towns and cities including Hubballi and Dharwad and urged the Union and State governments to take up the work on the long-pending project at the earliest. There were no reports of any untoward incident during the bandh.
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