Parts of Karnataka's capital, Bengaluru, wore a deserted look on Tuesday morning due to the bandh called by various farmers' organisations in the state over the Cauvery water-sharing dispute with neighbouring Tamil Nadu.
Public transport, including KSRTC and BMTC buses, was operating, but passenger footfall was much lower than on other days.
While autos have remained off the roads, app-based cab services were operating in Bengaluru on Tuesday.
Farmer bodies, Kannada organisations, and opposition parties have called for a 'Bandh' today in the city to protest against the order of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) directing the state to release 5000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days, effective September 13.
Bengaluru Urban District Collector KA Dayanand had on Monday announced a public holiday for all schools and colleges in the city because of the Bandh on Tuesday.
Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda said that Section 144 will be imposed in the city, under which gatherings of more than five people will not be permitted.
Bengaluru Airport and various airlines have issued travel advisories to passengers, asking them to plan their rides to and from the airport cautiously since private transport might be disrupted.
?"Due to the one-day Bengaluru bandh called by various unions and organisations on September 26, 2023, we anticipate disruption in transport services. Passengers are advised to plan their travel to and from the airport accordingly. Passengers are requested to follow alerts from respective airlines, law enforcement agencies and media releases for further updates," BIAL said on social media.?
"Due to the 'Bengaluru Bandh' on September 26, 2023, private transport might be disrupted. Customers travelling from Bangalore are advised to allow more time for their journey to the airport," the airline said in a post on 'X'.
The farmers and pro-Kannada organisations had been protesting since last week when the Supreme Court refused to interfere in a?Cauvery Water Regulation Committee?order under which the state must release 5,000 cusecs of water per day to neighbouring Tamil Nadu for 15 days.
The Cauvery River originates in Talacauvery, Karnataka, and flows through Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.
Sharing the water has been, for a very long time, a sticking point between the states involved.
In 2018, the Supreme Court ordered that Karnataka will get 284.75 tmc ft, Tamil Nadu will get 404.25 tmc ft, Kerala will get 30 tmc ft, and Puducherry will get 7 tmc ft. 10 tmc ft will be reserved for Environmental Protection, and 4 tmc ft will be reserved for Inevitable Wastage into the Sea.
This year, Karnataka has refused to release the share of water to Tamil Nadu as per the deal, citing a drought-like situation in the Kaveri basin. According to the Karnataka government and farmers' organisations, releasing water to Tamil Nadu is not possible as it doesn't even have enough water to irrigate standing crops.
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