A call for the dawn-to-dusk bandh against the rejection of the State’s interim plea by the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal on Saturday evoked little response in Mandya and Ramanagaram districts.
The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses remained off the road in response to the bandh call in both the districts. They began operations only after 4 p.m. in the two districts.
However, private buses, cabs and autorickshaws operated as usual. Commuters preferred trains to reach Bengaluru and Mysuru, and reached other places through private vehicles.
Incidents of agitators forcibly closing the shutters of business establishments were reported at Mandya, Maddur, Channapatna, Ramanagaram and K.R. Pet towns.
While the Ramanagaram district administration had declared holiday for schools, educational institutions across Mandya district functioned as usual.
Government offices remained open. According to the reports reaching here, life was normal in all the 11 taluks of both the districts.
Farmers and Kannada activists staged protests at district, taluk headquarters and hoblis in Mandya and Ramanagaram districts, according to police sources.
While members of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene staged protests, several Kannada activists took out motorcycle rallies.
Hotels, shops and business establishments were closed during the first half of the day.
Police personnel were deployed outside government offices and at public places to maintain law and order.
