Joida: Joida bandh was observed on Monday opposing the proposed diversion of Kali river and linking it to other rivers to provide water to other districts.
Traders kept their shops and other establishments closed to extend support to the bandh. However, schools and colleges functioned as usual.
The bandh call was given by Kali Brigade, Traders' Association and other organisations. Raising slogans 'Protect Kali river, save Joida taluk' in support of their demand, hundreds of protesters took out a protest rally from Shivaji Circle to the tahsildar's office and later submitted a memorandum to Tahsildar Sanjay Kamble.
Addressing the protesters, Kali Brigade Convener Ravi Redkar said that Joida taluk was facing an acute water crisis. Inspite of that, few people with vested interested were interested in diverting Kali river and using the water to quench the thirst of other districts. This plot seems to be a lobby of sugar factories, he alleged.
He said that the people of the district had sacrificed their lands and resources for several projects and now injustice was again being meted to the people in the form of Kali diversion. He warned that the people of the Kali river basin were not ready to give up the water of the river that flows on that land at the cost of the lives of their people.
Activist Kumar Bobate of Haliyal said that the government must first ensure that the people of the Kali basin get water for drinking and agriculture. A project must be executed for this purpose.
Joida Traders' Association President Rafiq Khazi said that the people who were displaced for the Supa project had not got basic facilities like drinking water and road till now. Crores of rupees had been spent to provide drinking water. However, even today, Ramanagar gets water once in 15 days and Joida once a week. Top-most priority must be given to provide Kali water to Joida and surrounding areas.
BJP Taluk unit president Tukaram Manjrekar alleged that the Karnataka Power Corporation (KPC) and other government officials were giving wrong information to the government and were portraying that all was right in Supa Rehabilitants' Centre. However, the fact is that the centre was suffering water shortage.
Zilla panchayat member Ramesh Naik, taluk panchayat member Suresh Bangari, Shaila Naik, Shyam Pokale, Vasudev Prabhu, Purushottam Kamat, Manjunath Mokashi, Shivaji Gosavi, Premanand Veleepa, Devidas Veleepa and others supported the bandh.
Proper police bandobast had been made for the bandh.