Karnataka is witnessing protests and standstill after the Supreme Court Cauvery verdict, as pro-Kannada organisations and farmer unions have called for Karnataka bandh on Friday, September 9.
The Karnataka government has received a directive from the Supreme Court to release Cauvery water into Tamil Nadu. Activist, Vatal Nagaraj said, “The water situation is so grim in the Cauvery basin that people will be facing problem for even drinking water, if we allow water to TN. We understand that frequent bandh calls are a huge inconvenience to public. But we have no other way as successive governments have failed to protect the interests of farmers in the Cauvery basin.”
Farmer leader Kodihalli Chandrashekar confirmed that farmer unions have also extended support to the bandh call.
According to latest updates, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has already suspended bus services from Bengaluru towards Mysuru owing to the disturbance. Mandya Police has also started a Facebook page to inform the public about road blocks and diversions. Here are 10 points that you should know about the ‘bandh’ and current situation in Karnataka.
A bus was damaged in Tamil Nadu and hence, buses traveling between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu were blocked. 700 buses have been pulled off from roads.
- Buses and trucks heading to Karnataka were stopped at Hosur along the border in Tamil Nadu.
- Schools and colleges are closed as a shutdown has been called in Mandya in southern Karnataka – the volatile heartland of the Cauvery basin.
- The Supreme Court yesterday asked Karnataka to release 15,000 cusecs every day to Tamil Nadu for 10 days.
- The dispute has been going on since years and the Tamil Nadu government had gone to court after Karnataka released far less water this year. A court appointed tribunal had specified the amount of water to released in 2007
- Citing lack of water in its reservoir, Karnataka had offered 10,000 cusecs of water a day.
- Tamil Nadu contested that state farmers can’t sow crop if enough water is not released immediately.
- Last week, the Supreme Court told Karnataka to “live and let live” and urged both states to “maintain harmony in the water dispute”.
- Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah has appealed for peace.
- Calling for an all party meeting in Bengaluru, Karnataka CM said a decision will be taken on releasing more water only after the government goes through the court order.
