Mangaluru/Udupi: The 12-hour state-wide bandh called by several pro-Kannada outfits demanding implementation of Kalasa-Banduri canal project, over which the state government has locked horns with neighbouring state Goa, received a poor response in the costal districts of Mangaluru and Udupi on Saturday, September 26.
Shops and markets across the city continued business as usual and vehicular traffic on the city streets was also normal. Although buses owned by Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation were off the road. Banks, business establishments and government offices, schools and colleges functioned normally. The bandh had no impact on private bus and rickshaw services.
Activists of Jayakarnataka staged a demonstration at the Clock Tower, Udupi and shouted slogans against the Union government demanding for the implementation of the Kalasa-Banduri canal project.
The Kalasa-Banduri Nala (diversion) project, which will utilise 7.56 TMC of water from the inter-state Mahadayi river, is being undertaken by Karnataka to improve drinking water supply to the twin cities of Hubballi-Dharwad and the districts of Belagavi and Gadag. It involves building barrages across Kalasa and Banduri, tributaries of the Mahadayi river, to divert 7.56 TMC to Malaprabha river, which is used for the drinking water needs of the twin cities.
Protests are on by several organisations and farmers across the districts of north Karnataka demanding the implementation of the Kalasa-Banduri project.