The dawn-to-dusk hartal called separately by the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Kerala Congress (M) demanding the final notification of the Western Ghats report on Monday was total and peaceful in the district.
Service buses, including the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation did not operate services and private taxis, including autorickshaws, kept off the road. However, a few private vehicles, including the two-wheelers, plied on the roads.
Shops and business establishments remained closed and passengers from Tamil Nadu were stranded at Kumily, the border town.
Tension prevailed near the Cumbom Mettu check-post for some time when activists of the Tamil Nadu Karshaka Sanghom raised slogans in favour of the Kasturirangan report and hartal supporters opposed it leading to minor clashes. The police reached the spot and the check-post was closed for some time.
The hartal supporters also blocked traffic at the main towns, especially in the High Range. The tourism town of Kumily and Munnar wore a deserted look with taxis keeping off the road and shops remaining closed.
In the low-range town of Thodupuzha, some private buses and the KSRTC conducted service on the long routes.
The hartal was called in Idukki district, eight grama panchayats in Pathanamthitta district coming under the ecologically sensitive area limit and Theekoy, Poonjar Thekkekara, Melukavu, and Koottickal in Kottayam district.
