Strike over Mullaperiyar issue evokes partial response

Thiruvananthapuram: The dawn to dusk state wide hartal called by “Mullaperiyar Samrakshna Samithi”, a forum supporting Kerala’s stand on constructing a new dam, has managed to evoke only a partial response in Kerala. In the Idukki district, where the 116-year old dam is situated, the strike was a success but other parts of the state had lukewarm response to the strike call. Shops, business establishments and schools remained closed in Idukki district. Buses and autorickshaws were off the roads and the hartal affected the normal life in the district. The hartal was in protest against Centre’s attitude towards the state demand for constructing a new dam in place of the existing structure, over which Kerala and Tamil Nadu have a long pending dispute. No untoward incident was repored so far from the district, police sources said. [caption id=“attachment_186241” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Kerala Congress (M), the third largest component in Congress-led ruling UDF, has also pledged its “moral support” to the hartal.Reuters”] [/caption] However, response to hartal in other parts of the state was partial and lukewarm. Shops and traders opened their establishments and private and government buses were conducting services as usual. Some of the Educational institutions including professional colleges in the state had declared a holidary in view of the hartal. Universities had also postponed examinations scheduled for the day. Public Service Commission had also postponed an interview scheduled for the day. Kerala Congress (M), the third largest component in Congress-led ruling UDF, has also pledged its “moral support” to the hartal. Though one month had elapsed after an all-party delegation from Kerala met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi, the Centre had not taken any effective steps in the matter, the hartal supporters said. PTI