Bengaluru , August 13
A Karnataka bandh called for Thursday over the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu and the demand for a reservoir at Mekedatu is likely to have a limited impact, with several prominent organisations withdrawing their support.
Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj announced the shutdown amid renewed tensions over the sharing of Cauvery water. The Cauvery Water Management Authority had last month directed Karnataka to release 3,500 cubic feet of water per second to Tamil Nadu after inadequate monsoon rainfall in July affected storage levels in the river basin.
Although inflows later improved and the Kabini, Harangi and Hemavathi reservoirs neared their full capacities, the dispute escalated following reports that Karnataka had been asked to release 12,000 cusecs to Tamil Nadu. The direction triggered opposition from Kannada organisations, farmers’ groups and political leaders.
Nagaraj maintained that the bandh would go ahead irrespective of the response from other organisations. Police arrested him on Wednesday while he was staging a protest at Bengaluru’s Majestic bus station. He had appealed to shopping malls, hotels, shops and commercial establishments to remain closed.
However, several Kannada leaders, including Sa Ra Govindu, Praveen Shetty and Shivarame Gowda, have declined to support a complete shutdown. Taxi and autorickshaw drivers’ associations have also withdrawn their participation.
Private school associations said their institutions, including schools in Bengaluru, would function normally. Several organisations that had participated in the statewide bandh on July 31 have decided to stay away this time.
Government buses, taxis and autorickshaws are expected to operate normally, although localised disruptions cannot be ruled out. Most shops and commercial establishments are also likely to remain open.
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and ministers Priyank Kharge and Balakrishna appealed to Kannada organisations to withdraw the bandh, assuring them that the government would pursue suitable legal remedies to safeguard Karnataka’s interests in the Cauvery dispute.
