Bangalore: Forty agitators from Andhra Pradesh courted arrest as they tried to force their way into Bagepalli in Karnataka violating prohibitory orders in protest against Karnataka going ahead with the controversial Chitravathi project in Kolar district.

The incident happened after a huge rally on Andhra Pradesh side of the border organised to protest Karnataka's move to construct a dam across the Chitravathi river, an exercise dubbed illegal by Andhra Pradesh.

Karnataka Director General of Police (DGP) T Madiyal said that 40 persons courted arrest. He said prohibitory orders are in force in Bagepalli taluk since June 5, adding, police arrangements have been beefed up as a precautionary measure.

While Andhra Pradesh has accused Karnataka of taking up the project illegally, the latter has asserted that it would go ahead with it to fulfil its "Constitutional duty" of providing drinking water to parched areas of Kolar district.

Karnataka has repeatedly categorically maintained that the project is meant for meeting drinking water requirements and not for irrigation purposes.

PTI