A large number of people blocked the movement of vehicles at the Bhagwan Mahaveer (Pumpwell) junction — the busy junction of the Mangaluru-Bengaluru (NH 75) and Mangaluru-Kasaragod (NH 66) National Highways — as a mark of protest against Yettinahole Diversion project here on Thursday.
Movement of vehicles towards Bengaluru, Kasaragod and Udupi were affected following commencement of the protest.
The Yettinahole Divertion project is meant to meet drinking water needs of the parched regions of Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Tumkuru and Bengaluru Rural.
The Netravathi Nadi Samrakshana Okkoota and other organisations have called for blocking movement of vehicles at this junction as a mark of protest.
The organisations are also demanding that the State Government stop the project as it does not yield the 24 tmcft of water as promised for the parched regions. They also contend that the project causes irreparable damage to the eco-sensitive Western Ghats and causes extensive damage to Nethravathi River — the life line of Dakshina Kannada.
Following closure at the junction, vehicles were diverted from Nanthoor and Thokottu junctions on NH 66 towards BC Road to join NH 75. Other vehicles on NH 66 have been diverted from Nanthoor junction and Jeppinamogaru to join the highway again via Morgans Gate, Valencia, Bendoorwell and Shivabagh.
This diversion led to traffic jam at Nantoor and Padil junctions. Vehicles moved on a snail pace on the narrow stretch of Morgans Gate-Jeppinamogaru Road.
"The protesters have told the protest will be for an hour. Accordingly the diversions have been planned," said Mangaluru Police Commissioner S.Murugan. He said adequate security arrangements have been made to ensure peace during the protest. "We hope the organisations will not cause much inconvenience to commuters," he said.
