Bangalore: National Highway 4 (Tumkur Main Road), which connects the city to north Karnataka districts and northern states, came to a standstill for over an hour on WednÂesday moÂrning, due to a flash protest carried out by demonstrators from 25 villages surrounding NelamÂaÂngala.
The villagers were proteÂsting about the government’s plan to revive ArkaÂvathy River valley.
The BDA has formed a task force to clear industrial encÂroÂachments on the river basin and swung into action.
Following the high court and government’s directive, the task force has been directed to clear all the industrial encroachment that had taken place in Bengaluru North Taluk under the BDA jurisdiction.
Apart from BDA, direÂctions have been issued to all the local authorities, urban development authÂorities and boards falling under the river valley basis to clear the encroachments.
The villagers, numbering over few thousands, staged the protest near the MadÂanayÂakanahalli junction.
VehÂicles on both sides of the road got piled up for over two kilometres. Three platoons of reserve police and the policemen attaÂched to the NelaÂmangala division were pressed into
service.
The villagers blamed the government for allowing them to construct residential buildings desÂpite the order. They claiÂmed they were paying taÂxes.
The polÂice arrested few protesters, including MLC E KriÂsÂhnaÂÂppa, and took them to MadÂaÂnayÂakanaÂhalli police station.
