Davanagere Bandh Over Bhadra Reservoir Water Release and Gutka Ban Evokes Mixed Response

A day-long Davanagere bandh called by the Areca Growers' Federation and the BJP Raitha Morcha evoked a mixed response across Davanagere city. The shutdown was organised to protest against the Karnataka state government's decision to ban tobacco and nicotine-containing gutka and pan masala, as well as the order releasing three TMC of water from the Bhadra reservoir into the Bhadra Upper Canal for other districts. Protesters, led by former state minister M.P. Renukacharya, gathered at key commercial and traffic points across the city, including Jayadeva Circle, Vidyarthi Bhavan Circle, Sangolli Rayanna Circle, PB Road, and Ashoka Road. Demonstrators set tyres on fire at several junctions to voice their anger, prompting immediate police intervention to extinguish the flames and prevent escalations. Protesters also stopped a Channagiri-Davanagere bus and urged local commercial establishments and private vehicle operators to extend their cooperation to the agitation. While shops in key commercial pockets remained closed during the morning hours, public transport, government offices, schools, colleges, and autorickshaws operated without major disruptions. Demonstrators argued that local farmers in Davanagere were experiencing severe water scarcity and that diverting Bhadra reservoir water to other regions, along with the restrictions on arecanut-derived products, would severely hurt local agricultural livelihoods and the rural economy.