Protests continue on Sonia's statement on Mahadayi

Hubli, Jun 4 (UNI) Protests continued on the second day today in Dharwad, Gadag and Belgaum districts against the reported statement of Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Mahadayi drinking water project during electioneering in Goa.

Today's bandh call given in Nargund and Navalgund towns in Gadag and Dharwad district respectively, which benefit from the project, evoked good response. However the situation remained peaceful, officials said.

The protesters condemned Ms Gandhi's remarks about project that connects Kalasa and Banduri, the two tributaries of Mahadayi, to Malaprabha river through canals to provide drinking water to the twin-cities of Hubli-Dharwad and the districts of Gadag, Dharwad and Belgaum.

Ms Gandhi had reportedly said that her party would oppose the project.

Goan government had objected to the inter-state project citing environmental issues and had also approached NEERI. The previous NDA government had stalled the work on the project. Karnataka government however, had launched the work on canals within the state on October two, 2006.

UNI