The Mahadayi river has been the bone of contention between Karnataka and Goa. Goa is against the plea of Karnataka, which seeks the release of water from the river to villages in Karnataka as drinking water.
Pro-Kannada organisations and farmers' associations have been observing a bandh in North Karnataka. In some places, stones were pelt at offices, tyres burnt and processions held. The protests followed the verdict of the New Delhi-based Mahadayi Water disputes tribunal, which on Wednesday directed Karnataka not to divert 7.56 TMC water from the Mahadayi river to the Malaprabha basin until final orders.
Sudin Dhavalikar, Transport Minister of Goa said that the two-day suspension was issued as a "precautionary measure". Over 100 inter-state buses, operated by private and public operators, ply between the two states every day.
"The suspension is for the state of Karnataka only, not for Goa. We have won the Mahadayi dispute issue on Wednesday. The Karnataka government should solve its problem. Though bus operators here are ready to go to Karnataka, but I have ordered them not to go there for two days. Right now there are no bus services for Karnataka," Dhavalikar said.
