National
Shutdown in Karnataka for Mahadayi water hits normal life
Dharwad (Karnataka), Dec 27 (IANS) Normal life was disrupted on Wednesday in four districts in northern Karnataka due to a day-long shutdown, called for the release of Mahadayi river water by Goa to the drought-prone region in the southern state.
“Barring stray incidents of burning tyres on roads, blocking movement of trucks and forcible closure of shops and eateries by the agitators, the dawn-to-dusk (6 a.m. to 6 p.m.) shutdown was peaceful,” a senior police official told IANS here.
As a precautionary measure, the state transport corporations did not operate bus services during the 12-hour shutdown in the affected districts of Bagalkote, Belagavi, Dharwad and Gadag, about 400 500km from Bengaluru.
“Schools, colleges, shops, markets, hotels, theatres, and private offices remained shut for the day in support of the shutdown observed by farmers, traders and pro-Kannada organisations,” said the official.
Inter-state bus services to and from Goa across the border were also suspended.
Government offices and banks reported thin attendance due to lack of public transport and closure of petrol bunks in the cities and towns of the affected districts.
Security was tightened and vigil stepped up to maintain law and order and ensure peace during the shutdown, which received overwhelming response from the people.
Though additional police were deployed across the four districts, organisations were allowed to hold rallies and stage demonstrations in protest against the delay in releasing the river water to meet the drinking needs of the people in the state’s northwest region.
The 77km-long Mahadayi or Mandovi river originates at Bhimgad in the Western Ghats in Belagavi district of north Karnataka and flows into the neighbouring Goa where it eventually joins the Arabian Sea.
Though the river flows runs 29 km in Karnataka and 52 km in Goa, its catchment area is spread over 2,032km in the southern state as against 1,580km in Goa.
Karnataka has been asking Goa since 2001 to release 7.6 thousand million cubic feet of the river water to meet the drinking and crop irrigation needs of its people in the drought-prone four districts.
Karnataka plans to build two canals at Kalasa and Banduri, the river’s tributaries in the state, to divert and supply the water to the four districts.
The Mahaydai Water Disputes Tribunal, headed by Justice J.N. Panchal, on July 28, 2016 rejected the state’s petition for releasing the river water, citing various grounds, including ecological damage the twin canal projects may cause. The Tribunal, set up by the Central Government on the Supreme Court’s directive, however, suggested the two states resolve the issue amicably.
With the state assembly election due in April-May 2018, BJP’s National President Amit Shah prevailed upon Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to consider releasing the water on humanitarian grounds and boost the party’s poll prospects in the state.
Parrikar then wrote to BJP’s state unit president B.S. Yeddyurappa on December 21 that he was open to discuss the issue with his Karnataka counterpart Siddaramaiah and release a certain quantity of water from the river to meet the needs of its people.
–IANS
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Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
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