Telangana state observed a shutdown today to protest against the passing of Polavaram Bill in Lok Sabha yesterday transferring over 200 villages to Andhra Pradesh to facilitate consturctiotn of Polavaram project, replacing the existing ordinance
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The bandh, called by Left parties and the Telangana Joint Action Committee (which spearheaded separate statehood movement), began on a peaceful note and there was no report of any untoward incidents anywhere in the state. The police sadi that the situation in the state is peaceful.
Most educational institutions in capital Hyderabad and other important cities of the state remained closed. Buses of state-owned Road Transport Corporation (RTC) went off the roads in Hyderabad and nine other districts of Telangana. Shops andbusiness establishments were closed in many parts of the newly-created state.
Activists of ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), TJACT and the left parties took to streets and laid siege to RTC depots to prevent buses from coming out. Though TJAC and the left parties called for the shutdown, TRS is also participating in the protest. Holding their respective party flags, the protestors raised slogans against the Centre for undemocratic move.
Over 500 buses from Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) in Hyderabad were cancelled. TRS workers staged road blockade at RTC cross-roads.
The shutdown is complete in Khammam district, whose villages spread over seven mandals were merged with Andhra Pradesh. CPI, CPI-M and CPI-ML staged protests in Khammam and other districts to condemn the passing of the bill.
The villages, which are to be submerged by the project, were transferred to prevent any inter-state dispute. Telangana, however, is demanding change in the design of the project to save the villages.
Police arrested TJAC chairman M. Kodandaram and his supporters for taking out a protest rally in Hyderabad. Kodandaram alleged that the tribal were being displaced to build the project. He said the central government's action was to favour contractors who will get works worth Rs.20,000 crore.
On a call given by the TRS, Telangana had observed a shutdown on May 30 after the Centre promulgated an ordinance to transfer the villages.
