State bandh unlikely to affect services
Bengaluru, (DHNS): Life may not be disrupted on Monday in view of the statewide bandh called by pro-Kannada outfits, seeking resolution of the Mahadayi water issue.
State transport corporations, including KSRTC and BMTC, said services will continue as normal, but a decision will be taken after assessing the ground situation.
Taxis and Namma Metro services are also unlikely to be affected. “We will run the service. However, if there is any threat to the safety and security of the commuters and BMRCL property, we may stop the services,” a BMRCL official said.
Shops and other business establishments are expected to operate as normal.
The bandh has been called by the Vatal Nagaraj-led Kannada Okkoota and Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce president Sa Ra Govindu, demanding implementation of the Kalasa Banduri project and resolution of other water issues.
Several organisations issued statements expressing ‘moral support’ to the bandh. In effect, nothing will change on the ground on Monday, except for sporadic protests.
Schools to remain open
Deputy Commissioner, Bengaluru Urban, V Shankar, said that schools and colleges would remain open. But some schools in the city have decided to declare a holiday keeping in mind students’ safety, Shankar said.
Shashi Kumar D, general secretary, Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka (KAMS) said though they have not announced a holiday, some institutions have decided to remain closed. The Kolar unit of the association and other sensitive areas in the state have announced a holiday, he said.
State Lorry Owners’ Association president G R Shanmugappa said lorry owners will participate in the bandh, and vehicles on local trips may be cancelled. “The long-distance lorries will ply as we have deadlines to meet,” he said.
Bengaluru Petroleum Dealers’ Association president B R Ravindranath said they have expressed moral support to the bandh, and petrol pumps will function as usual.
Echoing Ravindranath’s views, H C Shivaramu, president of Advocates Association of Bengaluru, said, “We have to give justice to the litigants and many of the litigants are farmers.”
Radhakrishna Holla, president, Bengaluru Tourist Taxi Owners’ Association, said they support the cause, but cabs will run as normal. “We are already losing out due to demonetisation, unfair practices of aggregators and rising fuel costs. We are tied to corporate houses and will lose out to competitors if we stay off the roads,” Holla said.
Precautionary measures
Elaborating on the security arrangements, DCP (Central) Chandragupta said, “We have not given permission to any outfit to protest on Monday. Adequate security measures have been made.
Sensitive areas in central Bengaluru will be continuously monitored. Police inspectors have been asked to be on patrol duty on Monday. Reserve police battalion from the City Armed Reserve (CAR), District Armed Reserve (DAR) and Karnataka State Reserve Police personnel will be deployed in the city.”
An officer of the ADGP rank said, “We have arranged for the deployment of three KSRP platoons each in all the districts. Depending on the security requirements, we will upgrade the capacity of the forces.”
The city police has issued notices to those factions of the pro-Kannada organisations that have called the bandh, directing them not to hold protests on Monday. They will be taken into preventive custody if they go ahead with any agitation, they warned.
Exams postponed
Visvesvaraya Technological University postponed theory examinations scheduled for Monday. The fresh dates will be notified shortly, Registrar (Evaluation) Satish Annigeri said in a release.
Similarly, Bangalore University has postponed its fourth semester postgraduate exams, and the rescheduled dates would be announced soon.
The exams for Diploma in Education and Diploma in Elementary Education scheduled for Monday have been put off by a day, Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board director said in a statement.