Karwar: The State-wide bandh call given by various organizations in protest against release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu evoked mixed response in Uttara Kannada district on Saturday.

People in Haliyal and Yellapur taluks of the district reacted more positively to the bandh call. Commuters in these two taluks were hit hard as the busses and auto rickshaws remained off the road.

Response for the bandh call was not felt in Sirsi, Siddapur, Bhatkal, Honnavar, Kumta, Ankola, Karwar and Mundgod taluks of the district. Urban life in these taluks was as usual. Shops and other business establishments were open. However, passenger service was affected as limited number of buses were pressed into the service.

Pro-Kannada organizations staged demonstrations in taluk headquarters and submitted memorandum to the government. Elaborate security arrangements were made in the district to present any untoward incident.

In Karwar, most of the shops were closed before 10 am on the day, but as the day progressed the shop owners opened the doors and by noon the business was as usual. Thus, there was hardly any effect of bandh over normal life in Karwar.

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