Now Reading: Karnataka bandh gets muted support over Cauvery water row
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Karnataka bandh gets muted support over Cauvery water row
The bandh called by Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj against the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s directive to release 12,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu is unlikely to disrupt normal life on Thursday.…
The Story in Brief
The bandh called by Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj against the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s directive to release 12,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu is unlikely to disrupt normal life on Thursday. Most organisations, including public transport bodies, auto unions, private schools and hotel associations, have offered only moral support. Farmers’ groups such as Raitha Hitarakshana Samithi have backed the strike. The police have warned against forced closures or road blockades and said adequate security is in place.
Mr Nagaraj insisted the bandh would be effective from 6 am to 6 pm, with Mandya entirely shut and full support expected in Hubballi, Dharwad, Raichur and Ballari. He later expanded the protest to include the Kalasa-Banduri and Mekedatu projects. The state government opposes the water release, citing deficient rainfall in the Cauvery catchment.
The Indian Opinion
Both sides are spinning this as a make-or-break moment. Activists claim Karnataka is being forced to drain its reservoirs while the legal process drags on. Critics say the bandh call was impractical from the start, given public fatigue with shutdowns. The truth is that most people and businesses quietly refused to join, which reflects a sensible pragmatism. The real test will come if the monsoon remains weak: will the CWMA or the Supreme Court modify the release order before the next deadline?
Sources (2): rediff.com, thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
