Pro-Karnataka organisations, along with farmers called for a statewide bandh on Friday after the Karnataka government released Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu on a Supreme Court directive.
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Officials confirmed that water was being let out since last midnight, shortly after the all-party meeting called by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
At an all-party meeting, Siddaramaiah said that he can not defy the Supreme Court’s orders.
Speaking to the media after a marathon three-hour meeting with leaders of all parties including MPs and MLAs, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “It is constitutionally not possible to defy the order of the Apex Court”.
He said they would seek change in it and also move the Cauvery Supervisory Committee.
Fending off the criticism of the legal team headed by Fali Nariman, the sources defended it, stating their advice on release was made so that the state succeeds when the main petition comes up for hearing before the court on October 18. Mysore highway is one of the most affected roads sine farmers in Mandya, Karnataka have blocked the road.
“The day-long state-wide shutdown is in protest against the Supreme Court order and to express resentment over the state government releasing the Cauvery water when we don’t have it for drinking and irrigation”, said Okkuta president Vatal Nagaraj here.
Other than Bengaluru, other parts of Karnataka are also experiencing the effects of the bandh including Mandya, Mysuru, Ballari, Koppala, Chikkaballapura, Dharwad and Kolar.
Pointing out the problems being caused due to the release of Cauvery water, he added that the ongoing protest will cause a severe damage to the state’s economy. Karnataka said that it can give 10,000 cusecs of water a day because poor rain has reduced water capacity of reservoirs lowering water availability, “not even for drinking”.
The state government will also bring in 10 companies of security personnel from the centre, two from Andhra Pradesh and Kerala to maintain law and order.
The Supreme Court had ordered release of 15,000 tmcft of water toTamil Nadu following a plea by the neighbouring state. That means thousands of people from Karnataka employed in factories at Hosur in Tamil Nadu can not get to work.
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A few activists of pro-Kannada organisations who tried to enter the departure terminal of the Kempegowda International Airport and the railway station here were stopped and detained by the police.
