The Hindu

• Cauvery Horata Samiti stages `rasta roko' in Mangalore
• Poor attendance at many schools; examinations cancelled
• Buses ply as usual; offices, banks function normally 

Mangalore, Feb 13: The bandh called in protest against the award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal received a poor response in Mangalore and other parts of Dakshina Kannada district on Monday.

Buses plied as usual within the city and in other parts of the district.

However, a few inter-district Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses, including those going towards Mysore, Bangalore, Mandya, Hubli, Dharwad and Shimoga, were delayed and a few were cancelled, according to KSRTC sources.

All public offices, banks and private organisations functioned normally, and not even one shop was closed in the market and in shopping areas in Puttur, Ullal, Moodbidri, Sullia, Beltangady, Bantwal Mulki and Vittla.

However, a small group of individuals under the banner of ‘Cauvery Horata Samiti', led by its convenors Dayananda Payyade and S P Chengappa, staged a ‘rasta roko’ at Hampankatta Circle in the city and blocked traffic for a few minutes.

The police quickly got the protesters to disperse. Members of the samiti later took a pledge in front of the Gandhi statue at Tagore Park to save the waters of the Cauvery for the State.

Many children did not attend school today, as their parents were unwilling to take any chances. The administrations of many schools posted staff at the gates, who requested the drivers of school buses as well as parents to take back their children.

There was some confusion for tenth standard students, who were in the middle of the preparatory examinations before the board-level examinations in March. The schools have said that the examinations slated for Monday will be conducted on Tuesday.