Idukki district shuts down over Mullaperiyar issue

A dawn to dusk State-wide hartal called on Wednesday by a forum supporting Kerala’s stand on constructing a new dam was total in Idukki district, where the 116-year old dam is situated and was partial in other parts of the State.

Shops, business establishments and schools remained closed in Idukki district. Buses and autorickshaws were off the roads and the hartal called by the Mullaperiyar Samrakshna Samithi disrupted normal life in the district.

The hartal was in protest against Centre’s attitude towards the state demand for constructing a new dam in place of the existing structure, over which Kerala and Tamil Nadu have a long pending dispute.

No untoward incident was reported so far from the district, police sources said.

However, response to the hartal in other parts of the State was partial. Shops and traders opened their establishments and private and government buses were conducting services as usual.

Some of the educational institutions including professional colleges in the State had declared a holiday in view of the

hartal . Universities had also postponed examinations scheduled for the day. Public Service Commission had also postponed an interview scheduled for the day.

Kerala Congress (Mani), the third largest component in the Congress-led ruling United Democratic Front, has also pledged its “moral support” to the hartal .