Karnataka Bandh Alert: Tamil Nadu-Karnataka Border Closed at Attibele Today; Everything You Need to Know

The Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border at Attibele is being blocked today, August 10 by Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj and his supporters.
Vehicles will be stopped from crossing the border in both directions as part of the protest which is going to take place as the activist has called for statewide Karnataka Bandh on August 13.

Attibele Border Closed Today

At around 11 a.m., Vatal Nagaraj and pro-Kannada activists are supposed to gather at the Attibele border to stop traffic between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

As quoted by The Hindu,Nagaraj said that "vehicles from Tamil Nadu would not be allowed to enter Karnataka, and vehicles from Karnataka would also be stopped from entering Tamil Nadu." He said the protest is carried out to send a strong message before the Karnataka bandh planned on August 13.

Previously the activists had planned a protest, on July 15, he had also blocked the Attibele-Hosur border to protest against Tamil Nadu's opposition to the Mekedatu project.

Reason Behind Karnataka Bandh On August 13

The Karnataka Bandh on August 13 has been called over for several water disputes involving both the states.
The main issues behind this include:

Mekedatu Project

As per the publicly available information, Karnataka wants to build a reservoir on the Cauvery River, but Tamil Nadu is against the project, saying it could reduce the amount of water flowing downstream.

Mahadayi Water Dispute

Karnataka and Goa have been fighting for a very long time over sharing water from the Mahadayi River.

Kalasa-Banduri Project

Karnataka wants to divert water to the Malaprabha basin, but the project has been facing many delays due to disputes.

Another major reason behind the protest is the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. A group of farmer and pro-Kannada organisations say Karnataka itself is facing water shortages because of poor rainfall, so the state should keep enough water for its own farmers and drinking needs.

Karnataka Bandh Timings

Vatal Nagaraj in his Media Statement said the bandh will take place on August 13 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. According to him, more than 2,000 pro-Kannada organisations have already provided support, and he expects that number to cross 3,000 before the bandh.

He also said Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar requested him to withdraw the bandh, but he refused. Nagaraj said the protest would go ahead as planned and would not be cancelled under any circumstances.

What Will Be Open/Closed During Karnataka Bandh on August 13?

If the Karnataka bandh goes ahead, people across Karnataka could face some disruptions.

Shops and other stores may be closed. Even KSRTC and BMTC bus services could be disrupted. However Auto-rickshaws, taxis, and app-based cab services may operate only partially

However, essential services are expected to continue, including Hospitals, Pharmacies, Ambulance services, Milk supply, Fruits & Vegetable supply