The day-long bandh called in Tamil Nadu today to protest Karnataka's move to build a reservoir at Mekeddatu across Cauvery evoked a mixed response with normal life being partially affected as the neighbouring state termed the stir as "politically motivated".
The dawn-to-dusk bandh called by Coordination Committee of All Farmers Associations and supported by opposition parties, including DMK, DMDK, MDMK and the Left besides traders' associations, was marked by protests, rail and road blockade for brief spells across the state.
Police said the bandh passed off peacefully and there were no untoward incidents except blocking of road and rail traffic in some places in Tiruvarur, Thanjavur and Nagapattinam and Tiruchirappalli districts where the shops were closed and bus stand and railway stations wore a deserted look.
The ruling AIADMK neither supported nor opposed the bandh. Yesterday, the state Assembly adopted an unanimous resolution urging the Centre to rein in Karnataka on the issue.
Police, who had put in place adequate security across the state during the bandh, said normal life was affected in Cauvery delta region and some other places.
Farmers bodies termed the bandh as a success claiming that lakhs of people had joined the protest against Karnataka and said the proposed dam would deprive them of their irrigation requirements.
In some areas of the state, trains were held up briefly due to the agitation and resumed after police intervention.
People in Cauvery delta districts such as Tiruchirappalli, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Perambulur and Ariyalur responded to the bandh call overwhelmingly as all business and commercial establishments downed shutters there while it was lukewarm in other parts of the state.
Public and private transport services operated as usual in most parts of the state, police said adding there was no major untoward incident.
