Cauvery row: Karnataka bandh largely peaceful; schools, shops open, police on alert

The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRA), which met in New Delhi on Tuesday (August 11), directed Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days from August 12. The CWMA upheld the decision.

What Karnataka CM says about CWMA order?

Responding to the order, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has said that the state government is committed to protecting the interests of farmers and abiding by court orders and will take a call on the matter after assessing the situation.

“I know that 12,000 cusecs orders have come. I'm also monitoring our inflow. Considering our situation, I have the duty to protect our farmers. We must protect our farmers and also abide by the court orders. Keeping both these aspects in mind, I will discuss with the irrigation minister and officials," PTI quoted him as saying.

Protests in Mandya

Protesters have urged the Karnataka government not to release any further water, citing the state's own drinking-water and agricultural requirements.

In Mandya, the epicentre of the Cauvery agitation, farmers and pro-Kannada organisations staged protests at Sanjay Circle and other locations.

Also read: Mekedatu dam dispute: CM Vijay, Udhayanidhi trade barbs in Tamil Nadu Assembly

Protesters carried empty pots and horse gram, shouting slogans such as “Our water, our right”, and blocked the Bengaluru-Mysuru old highway. The horse gram was used as a symbol of the alternative crop farmers may be forced to grow instead of paddy because of the lack of water.

One protester appealed to the government to “not release even a drop of water” to Tamil Nadu and urged it to defy the CWRC and CWMA orders.

‘Death warrant for farmers’

Protesters described the directions to release water as a “death warrant” for farmers and criticised successive governments for allegedly "failing" to protect Karnataka's interests in the Cauvery dispute.

The protesters also invoked former chief ministers D Devaraj Urs and S Bangarappa while demanding that the state government take a firm stand against the water-sharing directions.

Also read: United on Cauvery: Shivakumar scores a win as all Karnataka parties back Mekedatu

Another protester alleged that successive governments had "failed" to find a permanent solution despite spending thousands of crores of rupees on legal battles over the Cauvery dispute.

Pro-Kannada activists detained in Mysuru

In Mysuru, the bandh largely remained confined to protests. Bus services from the suburban bus stand to Bengaluru, Mangaluru and other parts of the state were operated normally.

Commercial establishments, including shops and hotels, opened as usual, while autos and taxis also operated without disruption.

Police detained pro-Kannada activists who attempted to block buses near the suburban bus stand.

The protesters raised slogans against the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments and demanded that no Cauvery water be released to Tamil Nadu.

Karnataka Sene district president Tejas Lokesh Gowda said the government should not yield to Tamil Nadu's pressure on the Cauvery issue.

Gowda demanded that the Centre mediate between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and convene a meeting of the two chief ministers to find a permanent solution.

He also sought a scientific water-sharing formula for years of low rainfall and urged Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to immediately convene an all-party meeting.

Little impact in Bengaluru

In the state capital, the bandh had little impact in the morning. State-owned BMTC and KSRTC buses operated normally from Kempegowda bus station, with police deployed across the platforms as a precaution.

In Bengaluru, the city police have made a massive deployment of personnel across several stretches while ensuring precautionary and security arrangements at sensitive locations.

Also read: Cauvery row boils over: TN rushes to SC; Karnataka to hold all-party meet

Police personnel conducted rounds to prevent attempts to stop buses or incidents such as stone-pelting. Police remained on alert in view of the possibility of activists attempting to disrupt bus services.

Issuing a stern warning to protesters, Bengaluru Police have said that firm and appropriate steps will be taken against any acts of violence, threats, and damage to public or private property, obstruction of road traffic or essential services, or any other act of taking the law into their own hands.

Ahead of the bandh, Bengaluru police had also appealed to protesters and the public to maintain calm and cooperation to ensure the city remains “peaceful, safe and normal”.

Schools, colleges and universities in Bengaluru also functioned normally. Schools continued classes, with some conducting scheduled internal examinations.

Also read: Cauvery water row: Karnataka explores legal options against 12,000-cusecs order

The Karnataka Associated Managements of Schools, which had earlier called for the closure of schools, has said that classes will not be affected during the bandh. However, the organisation, as a mark of solidarity towards the bandh, has asked school managements, teaching staff and non-teaching employees to wear black ribbons or black strips.

At Kempegowda International Airport near Devanahalli, there was no impact of the bandh.

Hail taxi riders, airport taxis and KSTDC taxis operated normally, and passengers continued to arrive and depart without disruption. CISF and state police maintained tight security as a precaution.

Situation in Hassan

Hassan also reported normal life. Bus, auto and other transport services operated as usual, while shops and other establishments remained open.

Ballari reported a lukewarm response to the bandh, with normal activities continuing. Police maintained a tight vigil and warned of strict action against anyone attempting to create trouble. Protests were expected to remain largely symbolic, with organisations planning to submit memoranda.

Also read: Cauvery water row: Shivakumar urges Karnataka farmers to drop Aug 13 protest; Vijay defers visit

In Koppal, Kannada Rakshana Vedike activists staged a protest near the Heggnal toll gate. They stopped trucks, offered flowers to drivers and appealed to them to support the bandh and the Cauvery agitation. Police subsequently detained the protesters.

Across the state, several organisations that had initially announced support for the bandh later clarified that they would extend only moral support, while participating in protests.

Traders, hotel owners, auto and taxi drivers, farmers' organisations and other groups in several districts said the Cauvery issue had their support but a shutdown was not the solution.

All eyes on SC hearing

Karnataka Water Resources Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Wednesday (August 12) said the state would find it difficult to release 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery water daily to Tamil Nadu as directed by the CWMA.

He said the government would decide its future course of action based on the outcome of a Supreme Court hearing on Thursday, asserting that it would ensure that no injustice was done to the state.

Also read: As DMK-TVK slugfest rages over Udhayanidhi, farmers ask: What about Cauvery water?

"I have held discussions with the chief minister and officials. The chief minister spoke to our Advocate General and advocates in Delhi. Tamil Nadu's petition is coming up before the Supreme Court tomorrow; it has been listed. We will have an opportunity there, and our advocates will file our objections. Let's see what the Supreme Court says. Thereafter, we will have further options," Reddy said.

Reddy said the government's future course of action would depend on the outcome of the Supreme Court hearing.

TN’s petition

"Tamil Nadu has filed a petition, and we have been served a notice. We will have an opportunity to present our case there. Based on the outcome, we will decide whether further legal action is required. This is based on the suggestions given by the advocates," he added.

The Tamil Nadu government earlier this month moved the Supreme Court over the Cauvery dispute with Karnataka, contending that the quantum of water directed by the CWRC, as well as the water released by Karnataka, was insufficient.

Also read: SC to hear on Aug 13 Tamil Nadu's plea on Cauvery water release

Earlier, on July 28, the CWRC had directed Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days.

Citing poor storage levels in its reservoirs, Karnataka had initially maintained that it was unable to release water to the neighbouring state. However, following heavy rainfall in Karnataka's Cauvery catchment areas, the state began releasing water under the earlier 3,500-cusec direction.