HN Valley Project water purification: Chikkaballapur bandh receives moderate response
Chikkaballapur: The bandh called for Sunday by organizations demanding the authorities to undertake third round of purification of water under the HN Valley Project received moderate response from the locals.
Members of the Permanent Irrigation Struggle Committee, pro-Kannada organizations and various farmers’ organizations complained that the state government has taken no decision on the issue related to the project related to the supply of water from the Hebbal-Nagawara lakes of Bengaluru to the lakes in Chikkaballapur.
Shop owners stayed their business keeping their stores closed for the day in support of the bandh. Traffic movement went on as normal. Police security was beefed up for the day to prevent any untoward incident amid the protest.
The members of Jeevajala Jagruti Vedike led a procession in town and shouted slogans demanding purification of water under the project.
BJP leader Sandeep Reddy, who spoke on the occasion, criticized the state government for taking no initiative to provide pure water and demanded the start of purification of water immediately.
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345 Indian fishermen stranded in Iran return home via Armenia
New Delhi (PTI): A group of 345 Indian fishermen, who were stranded in Iran amid escalating regional tensions, returned to India via Armenia on Saturday, officials said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar thanked his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan for assistance in return of the Indian nationals.
The Indian nationals arrived in Chennai this evening, the officials cited above said.
The circumstances that led to them being stranded in Iran were not immediately known.
"Thank FM @AraratMirzoyan and the Government of Armenia for facilitating the evacuation of Indian fishermen today from Iran, through Armenia to India," Jaishankar said on social media.
Over 1,500 Indian nationals have left Iran through land border crossings in Armenia and Azerbaijan since the start of the West Asia conflict over a month ago.
"A group of Indian fishermen, stranded in Iran, are returning home via Armenia today; their flight is expected to reach India this evening," a government statement said.
It said the Ministry of External Affairs continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the West Asian region, with the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community being accorded the highest priority.
It also made a mention of five Indians being injured in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
According to Abu Dhabi authorities, the Indian nationals were among the 12 people injured by debris from an intercepted missile.
"In an attack in Abu Dhabi, five Indian nationals were injured; four have been discharged, one remains under treatment," the Indian government's statement said.
It said the Indian mission in Abu Dhabi is extending "full" assistance and coordinating with local authorities, adding that their flight is expected to reach India this evening.
