Evidently several people living in Karnataka were affected and schedules hampered as the state remained shut due a ‘bandh’ called on Saturday. Since early morning, the shutters of the shops were shut and roads remained vacant as vehicle owners refused to risk, fearing the damage. The effect of the Bandh was quite explicit, though the police cars were on high alert, patrolling the streets, quipped for taking action if necessary.
The Bandh Call:
The state-wide Bandh is taking place as various Kannada organizations have formed a union named ‘Kannada Okkatu’, whose president is Vatal Nagaraju, to exert pressure on the state government to implement the Mekedatu Drinking water Project. He said that the Bandh would be characterized by peaceful rallies across the state and a huge rally would be organized from the Town Hall to the Freedom Park as leaders submit a memorandum to chief minister Siddaramaiah. This rally was expected to have over 1 lakh supporters. However, he assured that transportation and milk supply would not be affected due to the bandh.
The dawn to dusk Karnataka Bandh was announced to protest Tamil Nadu’s opposition to the project. Tamil Nadu’s interference has caused a delay in the advancement of the project of the Mekedatu project. Tamil Nadu has ‘advised’ the state to stop all water projects including the Mekedatu drinking water project in Cauvery basin as it violates the final orders of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and affects the interest of its farmers. Fali S Nariman, the head of Karnataka’s legal and technical advisory team on Cauvery basin projects has given a green signal to the project. “The proposed project is within our land boundary and utilises our share of water in the Cauvery basin.
Tamil Nadu will not have any grounds to stop it. We are approaching the Central Water Commission seeking clearance for the project. We do not anticipate any resistance from Tamil Nadu as we are not violating any water sharing agreement or the Supreme Court direction. This is just a drinking water project and we are confident of getting the go-ahead from the Central Water Commission,” Nariman said.
ImageCourtesy: post.jagran.com
Kannada Okkatu:
Kannada Okkatu is the integration of various Kannada organizations around the state. This organization is working for the implementation of the Mekedatu Drinking water Project. The president of this array is Vatal Nagaraju.
The Mekedatu Project:
The project, belonging to the Karnataka government, aims majorly to provide drip irrigation for sugarcane cultivators and bringing more water to the dry lands. Also, Karnataka is the second state that has most dry lands after Rajasthan. This project also includes the desiltation of various dams which include the Tungabhadra Dam and rejuvenation of the Arkavathy river. The state government is seeking technical consultation for this project.
The Mekedatu project will ease the lives of several residents and provide water to many districts. The sugarcane cultivation will hike and production will increase. As the project is proposed between the land boundary of Karnataka, it should not cause any harm or unkindness to anyone.
Mekedatu, located 90 kms off Bengaluru, will provide drinking water to Bengaluru and other towns in the Kaveri basin. However, this project will pay the cost of 2500 acres of forest land. Good things come with a price, as they say. Currently, the Kaveri water is pumped from Torekadanhalli, located about a 100 kms from Bengaluru.
Backing the Bandh:
Supporters of this project include Dr Rajkumar Fans Association, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike and Kannada Sahitya Parishat among others. Though the Mekedatu project is a major reason for the Bandh, there are several other reasons contributing to the Bandh which include ‘demanding release of Rs.10,000-crore for completion of works on the Upper Krishna Project, release of additional funds for the development of Belagavi and stoppage of work on laying high-tension power line across the Western Ghats through Kodagu.’
The Bandh’s duration was from dawn to dusk i.e. 6 AM to 6 PM. The Bandh did cause inconvieneince to the normal lives of the locals as transportation was affected.
Tags: Karnataka Karnataka Bandh
