Belthangady : Shops, business establishments and educational institutions were closed in Belthangady, Ujire and Dharmastala today as a mark of protest against the Yettinahole diversion project.

Several organisations had given the call for bandh. People are opposing the State Government’s move to spend Rs. 13,000 crore on the project that does not get 24 tmc ft. of water claimed by the government. They are against destruction of the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats for the project.

Most of the shops and business establishments did not open their shutters in Belthangady and Ujire. Some shops were open around the temple in Dharmastala. Educational institutions remained closed.

Movement of KSRTC and private busses stopped from 8 a.m. Autorickshaws and other vehicles stayed off the road in Belthangady. The police said people blocked movement of vehicles at a few places. These blockades were for about 10 minutes and protesters were cleared, the police said.