Bangalore: KSRTC Losing Rs 1 Cr Daily Since 15 Days over Cauvery

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Oct 8: The State Owned Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has been incurring a loss of Rs 1 crore daily in the last 15 days due to ongoing agitation in the Cauvery basin districts opposing the Cauvery River Authority’s directive to the State to release water to Tamil Nadu.

KSRTC has been forced to reduce the number of services between Bangalore and Mysore and Bangalore and other districts in the Cauvery basin due the agitation, Deputy Chief Minister R Ashok, who also holds Transport and Home portfolios, told reporters on Monday.

The Corporation has been incurring loss of Rs 30 to 35 lakh daily in the last two weeks due to disruptions in the movement of bus services between Mysore-Bangalore alone, he said.

Apart from reduction of the number of buses, Ashok said the number of passengers travelling between Bangalore-Mysore and Bangalore and other districts in the Cauvery basin has also been affected by the agitation launched by the farmers on the state highway.

The KSRTC has been operating its fleet on alternative routes between Mysore and Bangalore, the Deputy Chief Minister said.

After the all India bandh against hike in diesel prices and the decision on allowing multi-brand retail in the retail sector by the Centre, the State observed a day-long bandh last Saturday opposing the release of water to Tamil Nadu. The two days of bandh and the ongoing Cauvery agitation hit bus services in southern parts of the State.
 

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Meanwhile, Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj, who spoke to reporters after inspecting an Indian Air Force (IAF) Hospital, called for a mutually beneficial arrangement between Karnataka and the neighbouring Tamil Nadu to resolve the Cauvery river water dispute.

Bhardwaj said that leaders of both the States should sit together and chalk out a plan that would suit their needs without taking the route of agitation.

"Karnataka and Tamil Nadu should go by facts. Both States should strive to accommodate and help each other. There should be a give and take policy and leaders of both States should be ready for small sacrifices. That is the stand the courts, tribunal and CRA must adopt,” Bhardwaj said.

"The agitation approach adds to the problems of the state. My own view is that it doesn’t help because court does not work under pressure,” the former Union Law Minister said.