Hartal hits life on TN-Kerala border

CUMBUM: The dawn-to-dusk bandh called by a forum in Kerala over construction of a new dam in place of the existing Mullaiperiyar dam affected transport services to the State from Tamil Nadu on Wednesday. All vehicles bound for Kerala were stopped at the border.The bandh call made by Mullaiperiyar Samara Samithi, a forum supporting Kerala’s stand on constructing a new dam, had little impact in Kerala except in a few pockets. The bandh was supported by the CPM-led Left Democratic Front parties in Kerala and the Kerala Congress (M).The TN State Corporation buses plying to Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam,  Munnar, Vandiperiyar and Elapparari were stopped at the border. The Kerala State Transport Corporation buses to TN were also off the roads. The vehicles carrying Ayyappa devotees from Sabarimala were allowed to proceed by the protestors after a blockade for 10 minutes. The tourists who were held up in many locations in Idukki were affected as hotels and commercial establishments were remained closed. Meanwhile in Thiruvananthapuram the dawnt-to-dusk Statewide hartal was total in Idukki district, where the 116-year old dam is situated and was partial in other parts of the state.Shops, business establishments and schools remained closed in Idukki. Buses and autorickshaws were off the roads and normal life was hit in the district.No untoward incident was reported from any part of the district, police said.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 educational institutions, including professional colleges in the state, had declared a holiday 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.