A large number of activists and students took part in a water march from Mangalore to Thumbe Vented dam and Sarpady dam on Saturday. The march was held under the aegis of Jana Jala Vedike against the proposed move to privatise distribution of water.
It was also against the Mangalore Special Economic Zone’s installation of pipeline from Sarpady dam, which the participants allege, would enable MSEZ to draw 30 million gallons of water instead of 10 million gallons, which has been permitted.
The march was led by young members of “Tarikita Jagruti” troupe who sang songs on ill-effects of water privatisation and about the need to protect natural resources and local culture. Several students, including those from Roshni Nilaya, participated in the march. Several activists including the members of Mangalore Citizens Forum participated in the march.
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Flagging off the march, theatre person Prasanna Heggodu pledged his support for the fight for right of water. He said such fights, though slow in pace, should continue regardless of obstacles that come in the way.
At Thumbe vented dam, the activists held handful of water and took oath to protect the Netravathi river and prevent any commercial use of water. The activists then went to the B.C. Road and held demonstrations at the Sarpady dam. Few members of Sarpady Gram Panchayat participated.