Belthangady: Netravati Ulisi Horata Samiti and other like-minded organizations called for a bandh against the Yettinahole project on Wednesday, October 7. The protest received a great response.
Around 40 organizations and unions are supporting the day-long bandh. The entire city was at a standstill as most of the city chose to go in favour of the bandh. The protestors agitated and burnt tyres on the roads as they staged a ‘rasta roko’.
Even KSRTC buses along with private vehicles were brought to a halt. The bandh will continue till evening, it has been reported. Police have stepped up security in the taluk.
The ‘Yettinahole Diversion Project’ seeks to divert the head waters of the Gundia River (a tributary of the Kumardhara, which in turn is a tributary of the Netravathi) in the west and transfer this water to the other end of the state, in the east for irrigation and drinking water purposes. The aim is to provide 14 TMC of water for Hassan, Chikkamagalore, Tumkur and Bangalore rural and 10 TMC for Kolar and Chikkaballapur. Of this 10 TMC, barely 2.81 TMC is earmarked for drinking water supply for these two districts.
