Bengaluru bandh today: Cauvery water dispute straining Karnataka-Tamil Nadu ties

The Karnataka capital is witnessing a city-wide bandh today in protest of the release of Cauvery water to neighbouring state Tamil Nadu. Protestors are expected to come in from several quarters including opposition parties and pro-Kannada groups.

Farmers raised slogans demanding the government to stop releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu at Bengaluru’s Freedom Park on Tuesday amid the bandh.

Farmers raised slogans demanding the government to stop releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu at Bengaluru’s Freedom Park on Tuesday amid the bandh.(ANI)

A wider bandh across the state has been called on Friday. The Cauvery river water dispute between the two southern states has been going on for decades. The issue flared up recently after an order from the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) asking Karnataka to release 5000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu. This was not warmly received by the former, which has been maintaining for several days that there is no water to release amid a drought-like situation.

Farmers and activist groups have therefore been protesting the release of water in Mandya, Udupi, Bengaluru and several other places.

Auto drivers, KSRTC, BMTC and other transport corporations had extended support to the bandh call today, however, all operations are expected to run as per usual. Meanwhile, schools, colleges and other educational institutions are expected to be closed.