Normal life was affected today in Kerala’s Idukki, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Alappuzha districts due to the 12-hour hartal call given by various political parties seeking immediate resolution to the Mullaperiyar dam dispute.
Shops have downed shutters, Kerala Road Transport Corporation buses are not operating services and private buses are also off the roads in most of the places, initial reports from the four districts said.
The dawn-to-dusk hartal, which began at 6 am this morning, has been called by BJP and the Kerala Congress Mani and Kerala Congress Jacob factions, both constituents of the ruling UDF.
In Kochi, only a few private vehicles are plying. Educational institutions have declared a holiday in view of the hartal.
In Idukki district, this is the second consecutive day that the hartal is on. A dawn-to-dusk hartal was observed yesterday after it was called by the Congress-led UDF and CPI(M) led Opposition LDF.
Vehicles of Sabarimala pilgrims, however, are being allowed to pass through Idukki and other districts.
Kerala has been pressing for immediate Centre’s intervention to persuade Tamil Nadu to agree to the proposal of a new dam at Mullaperiyar holding that the present 116-year-old structure posed a threat to nearly three million people.
However, holding a contradictory view, Tamil Nadu has opposed construction of a new dam, asserting that the present reservoir “is as safe and good as new” and accused Kerala of whipping up fear psychosis.