Shivamogga: A bundh called for by various organisations against the government’s decision to pump water from river Sharavathi to Bengaluru, on July 10 witnessed outstanding response.
The protesters, who gathered from villages and cities across the district demanded the government to withdraw the project, which could prove out to be detrimental to the Malnad district. Commercial establishments remained closed voluntarily in solidarity with the cause. Private buses, KSRTC buses and other modes of transportation too remained off road. A holiday was declared to schools in Shivamogga, Sagara, Theerthahalli, Hosanagara, Bhadravathi, Sorab taluks. However, necessary services like dairy shops and medical shops remained open.
An altercation broke out between a few traders and protesters when the former tried to open the shops at Vonobhanagar, but timely intervention by the police sorted the issue.
The members of ‘Save Sharavathi campaign,’ an initiative of locals said that the state government has floated the most unscientific way of lifting water to Bengaluru despite protest since the past 20 days. It may be recalled that thousands of people had gathered to sign the Shivamogga Sharavathi Signature Campaign demanding the government to withdraw the project. The protesters say that it is not feasible to take water from Shivamogga to Bengaluru, which is almost 450 kms away. The protestors had earlier submitted a request to Shivamogga Deputy Commissioner (DC) K A Dayananda expressing their discontent over the decision. Last month, the state government proposed a project that aims to provide drinking water to the people of Bengaluru from Linganamakki reservoir. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara had directed officials to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) on bringing water from the reservoir.