Kolar shuts down; vegetable movement to city hit

Kolar and Chickballapur districts shut down completely and their roads and trading centres looked deserted during the bandh.

There was no trading at the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee. Transportation of vegetables to Bengaluru and other places was affected. Offices, banks, businesses, schools and colleges remained closed.

The arid Kolar, which borders Tamil Nadu, and Chickballapur stand to gain from the Mekedatu water project.

Public and private buses did not operate. A few passengers travelling to Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh were stranded at the KSRTC bus stand. Public sector BEML Ltd's KGF unit had declared a holiday in advance.

Advocates boycotted court proceedings and demonstrated with empty pots at Mekke Circle in Kolar. Members of pro-Kannada outfits took out processions. The State has made tight security arrangements in areas bordering Tamil Nadu.