Bengaluru: Several pro-Kannada organisations have called for a statewide Karnataka bandh on August 13, protesting the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s (CWMA) directive to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
The bandh has been scheduled from 6 am to 6 pm, with organisers appealing to traders, transport operators, various organisations and the public to extend their support.
Announcing the protest after a meeting of pro-Kannada organisations in Bengaluru, Karnataka Rajya Kannada Sanghatanegala Okkuta president and former MLA Vatal Nagaraj opposed the CWMA’s direction to release 3,500 cusecs of water per day for 15 days from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu.
He argued that Karnataka was facing a difficult water situation due to deficient rainfall, with reservoir levels declining and concerns growing over drinking water supply and irrigation. Releasing water to Tamil Nadu under such circumstances, he said, would be unjust to farmers in the state.
Vatal Nagaraj also said the organisations had no objection to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay visiting Karnataka. However, he warned that if the visit was intended to support the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, protesters would stage a demonstration at the airport.
The bandh call comes amid renewed tensions over the sharing of Cauvery river water between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu following the CWMA’s latest directive.