In adherence to the Supreme Court order, Karnataka had, from Tuesday night begun releasing 15,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu, as against its own generous offer to release 10,000 cusecs a day.
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The bandh has, especially, hit Bengaluru with the state government extending its tacit support to the protestors.
A meeting of the Karnataka State Congress Co-ordination Committee, chaired by Singh, chose to hold a series of mass contact programmes from September 27 to highlight the State government’s performance in different sectors.
Schools and colleges have declared a holiday today and attendance at government offices will not be compulsory.
Opposition parties of BJP and JD (S) have also lent support to the bandh. No auto-rickshaws, cabs or government buses can be found on the roads.
The Bengaluru Metro is not running on Friday morning.
Flights at Bengaluru airport were affected as Karnataka Rakshana Vedike activists protested at the departures gate at Bengaluru airport.
The transgender community in the district also took part in the bandh related demonstrations. While some private companies have declared holiday, others are making alternative arrangements like “work from home” for employees.
Apart from transport, banks, petrol pumps, hotels, malls and other commercial establishments are also closed for the day.
Tamil channels will not be aired with Karnataka Cable Operators Association supporting the bandh.
A section of farmers in the district staged a protest by walking into the river carrying stones on their head.
People have been advised not to enter Karnataka in vehicles with Tamil Nadu registration numbers, with protesters stationing themselves at the border between the two states.
This is the second bandh that the state is bracing for in less than a week’s time and the fourth this year. Chief minister Siddaramiah has appealed for peace and said no damage should be caused to public property during the bandh.
In Bengaluru, more than 14,000 police personnel will be deployed.
Cauvery row has hotted up in the state after the Supreme Court on Monday directed to Karnataka to release 15,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for the next 10 days to address the plight of the farmers there.
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Farmers in Karnataka were suffering due to shortage of water in raising standing paddy and sugarcane crops, he said.
