Normal life was paralysed in the Polavaram submergence areas in the seven tribal sub-plan mandals, those merged with the residuary Andhra Pradesh, following a bandh observed by the CPI (M) in protest against the transfer of the seven mandals to the successor State of AP.
The bandh evoked good response in Bhadrachalam town, which has been retained in Telangana State.
CPI (M) State committee member M. Venkateshwarlu, district secretariat member A.J. Ramesh and others staged a demonstration in the temple town demanding revocation of the Centre’s ordinance shifting seven Polavaram submergence mandals from Bhadrachalam and Palvancha divisions to the residuary AP.
The APSRTC buses remained off the roads till afternoon in the seven tribal sub-plan mandals on account of the bandh. Bus services from Bhadrachalam division to various destinations in Chhattisgarh and residuary AP were disrupted for some time in the morning.
According to sources, Adivasi Sankshema Parishad and several other organisations extended their support to the bandh. The ASP activists staged a demonstration near Chidumuru in Chintur mandal in support of the bandh.
Protest demonstrations and rallies by the Adivasis marked the bandh in V R Puram, Kunavaram and five other mandals, which have been merged with the successor State of AP.
Sources said that the boat services to the Papikondalu tourist destination were also hit by the bandh.
