Nagraj arrested, crowd dispersed, Kalsa canal at Kankumbi protected
VISHANT VAZE, BICHOLIM | 26 October 2015 19:25 IST
Vachal Nagraj, leader of Nagraj Party, was arrested by Karnataka government today, as he had threatened to break the vents on Kalsa canal at Kankumbi, across Goa border at Chorla.
The neighbouring state authorities also imposed section 144 and dispersed a crowd of around 200 farmers, who were marching to the canal today morning.
The Mhadei water dispute tribunal had ordered to block the canals – Kalsa and Banduri – built by Karnataka government to divert water of Mhadei River to Malprabha.
Goa has opposed the diversion and the tribunal will continue its hearing from 23 November.
Meanwhile, Nagraj had threatened that he would march along with farmers on 26 October and break the vents built on canals, to stop any kind of diversion.
If Nagraj succeeds in breaking the vent, the action would obviously go against Karnataka, weakening the case before the tribunal.
The Karnataka police thus today arrested Nagraj in Kittur, preventing him from going to Kankumbi.
The authorities have also built barricades all around the canal and deployed heavy police force at Kankumbi as well as all along the area up to Jamboti.
Yet another attempt made by handful of people to march towards the canal was also foiled by the police, again in the evening.
The police deployment would continue to remain in the area for some time, said the sources.
