Pressure on KIOCL mounts

shimoga: 'the save tunga and bhadra movement' launched against the activities undertaken by the kudremukh iron and ore company ltd (kiocl) received a shot in the arm with scores of organisations supporting the bandh call on july 24. a slew of voluntary organisations, eco-groups and political parties have wholeheartedly backed the agitation which is now spearheaded by jnanpith laureate u.r.anantha murthy. the agitation aims at saving gangadekallu and gonibeedu, from where rivers tunga and bhadra originate, and also the fragile western ghats. the bandh, to be observed in seven districts of malnad through which the tungabhadra river courses, will pressure the government against renewing the licence for kiocl. the government during its recent cabinet meeting decided to make a decision only after a 'fresh scientific study' of the issue.