Karnataka Bandh August 13: 12-Hour Shutdown Called Over Cauvery Water Row; Check What Will Be Affected

A 12-hour Karnataka bandh has been called in the state on Thursday, August 13th from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, over the ongoing Cauvery water-sharing dispute with Tamil Nadu.

The Karnataka bandh has been announced by veteran Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj, who claims that more than 2,000 pro-Kannada organisations have given their support to this strike.

The shutdown comes after the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) directed Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of Cauvery water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days, despite the state's concerns over water availability and drinking water needs.

Why Has Karnataka Bandh Been Called?

The main reason behind the Karnataka bandh is the Cauvery Water Management Authority's decision to release 3,500 cusecs of Cauvery water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days.

This has raised major concern since the state is already struggling over water availability and drinking water needs due to rainfall
Karnataka had earlier said that poor storage levels in its reservoirs and drought-like conditions made it difficult to release water. However, after heavy rainfall in the Cauvery catchment areas, the state resumed water release.

Alongside the Cauvery issue, protesters are also demanding for faster progress on the long-pending Mekedatu balancing reservoir project, which the Karnataka government says is very important for Bengaluru's future drinking water supply.

Karnataka Bandh Details

The Karnataka bandh on August 13 Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj who is leading it along with other pro-Kannada organisations.
In a press conference on Monday, Nagaraj said that there are no differences among Kannada organisations and said that the bandh would go ahead as planned.

According to him, over 2,000 organisations from across Karnataka, including student groups are in support of the shutdown.

Attibele Protest Ahead of Karnataka Bandh

Ahead of the August 13 bandh, Vatal Nagaraj and some other Kannada activists carried a protest near the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border at Attibele on Monday, Aug 10.

The protesters tried to block traffic on the highway; however, police later detained Nagaraj and several protesters to prevent disruption.

Karnataka Government's Response

The Karnataka government has asked the organisations to reconsider the bandh while assuring that the state is looking into the matter. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar called an all-party meeting in response to the Cauvery dispute.

Will Schools, Colleges, Banks and Government Offices be Open?

As of now, no official holiday has been declared for August 13. There has been no government notification announcing the closure of schools, colleges, universities, Banks & Government offices.

Additionally there is also no official announcement regarding the suspension of BMTC buses, KSRTC services or Namma Metro operations.
Transport services are expected to function normally unless fresh instructions are issued by the authorities.