Title: Bengaluru Witnesses ‘Bandh’ Protesting Cauvery Water Release to Tamil Nadu
Bengaluru, the capital city of Karnataka, is currently experiencing a ‘bandh’ (shutdown/strike) today as citizens voice their protest against the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. The bandh has been called by the State Sugarcane Farmers Association President Gurupuru Santhakumar, following a recent order from the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court, in its order, directed the Karnataka government to comply with the order issued by the Cauvery Management Authority. The order mandates the release of 5,000 cubic feet of water per second for the next 15 days to Tamil Nadu. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s Congress-led government, which is in power in Karnataka, is now facing the ire of farmers and Kannada organizations in the Cauvery catchment areas.
In protest against the Supreme Court order, daily demonstrations and road blockades have been organized by farmers and Kannada organizations. Today’s bandh in Bengaluru is part of their ongoing efforts to condemn the court’s decision.
A significant number of organizations, including the Kannada film industry and government transport unions, have expressed their support for the bandh. However, it has been announced that government-run buses and metro trains will continue to operate as usual.
To ensure the safety and security of the public, a 144 Prohibitory Order has been imposed in Bengaluru, in effect until midnight today. In line with this, all autos and taxis are uncertain about running their services. Many companies have advised their employees to work from home, while exams scheduled for the day have been postponed.
The impact of the bandh is also being felt by the Tamil Nadu Transport Corporation, which has decided to halt the services of its government buses into Karnataka. Around 250 express buses that usually operate between Tamil Nadu’s major cities and places like Bengaluru and Mysore will not be running today. Similarly, the President of the Tamil Nadu Truck Owners Federation, Thanraj, has urged truckers not to enter Karnataka today due to the bandh.
With the bandh in full swing, Bengaluru is witnessing a temporary shutdown of business and transportation activities, displaying the strong sentiments of the citizens against the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. The government and concerned authorities are closely monitoring the situation to ensure public safety and minimize inconvenience during this period.