Cauvery issue: Orgs call for Bengaluru bandh on Sept 26

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Farmers and Pro Kannada Organisations and have called for a bandh on Tuesday, 26th of September as a mark of protest against the Karnataka government releasing the water from Cauvery river to Tamil Nadu.

Day to-day affairs will be affected in the city because of the bandh, which will be observed from 6am till 6pm. Driver unions, including the ones from aggregators like Ola and Uber, have decided to join the Bandh.

Kuruburu Shanthakumar, prominent farmer leader and president of the Sugarcane Growers' Association has called on educational institutions, companies and film chambers to declare a holiday.

This was decided after a meeting in freedom park with other Pro-Kannada organisations on Saturday. They will march together from Town Hall to Mysuru Bank Circle at 11am on Tuesday.

Opposition parties like the BJP, AAP and JD(S) have expressed their support towards the bandh. The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BRMCL) will function as per schedule, but the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation(KSRTC) and Bengaluru Metropolitan Corporation(BMTC) will assess the law and order situation, before making their decisions.

Industries,restaurants and shopping malls are also expected to be closed in support of the bandh. Essential services like Hospitals, nursing homes, pharmacies and government offices will remain open. Bengaluru City Commissioner B Dayananda has ensured all necessary measures are in place.

Officers will be extra vigilant in areas mostly occupied by Tamil people, especially in the border areas. This comes after the Supreme court's refusal to intervene in the Cauvery Water Management Authority's(CWMA) directive to release water to Tamil Nadu on Thursday.

The Karnataka Cabinet decided to release water from Cauvery to Tamilnadu from 26th. The government has also initiated the process to construct the Mekedatu Dam, which is opposed by the neighbouring state.