The bandh in Karnataka called by 'Kannada Okkoota' over the Cauvery water-sharing dispute with Tamil Nadu on Friday threw normal life out of gear in the state. The bandh received good responses in Bengaluru and southern parts of Karnataka. However, some of the commuters were put to suffer due to the cancellation of several flights, buses and other forms of transportation. Prohibitory orders were imposed under Section 144 of CpCr in Bengaluru Urban, Mandya, Mysuru among other districts. 


'Kannada Okkoota' is an umbrella organisation of Kannada and farmers' outfits.


On Friday, most shops, eateries and business establishments downed their shutters and only essential services like hospital and chemist shops functioned in parts of the state. 


All schools and colleges in Bengaluru and some other districts remained closed in view of the bandh. 


On Friday, Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) which also met ordered Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of water along with the backlog of 12.5 TMC of water to Tamil Nadu till October 15, 2023. While Karnataka said that they were not in a position to release water due to the grim water situation in the state, Tamil Nadu demanded CWMA to order the neighbouring state to release 12500 cusecs of water.


Karnataka Bandh Over Cauvery Row — Top Points:



  • Kannada Okkoota bandh which started at 6 AM was effective till 6 PM on Friday. The bandh was organised just two days after a bandh was observed in Bengaluru which received mixed responses over the same Cauvery water-sharing row.


  • On Friday, Karnataka protestors burned down the portrait of Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin in Chitradurga. In Mandya, protestors rolled on the road. Some of the protesters were detained in order to maintain the law and order.





  • On the bandh, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said "There was a meeting of the Cauvery Management Authority today. We have submitted all our facts. I will hold a meeting with retired Supreme Court Judges today. I will talk with our legal team if we can question this in the Supreme Court. We will decide what to do after talking to them. Let us see what happens next."















     









  • Over 40 flights to and fro Kempegowda International Airport were cancelled due to the bandh. An airport official told PTI, "We cancelled 44 flights today. They include 22 flights to and an equal number of flights from Bengaluru due to the strike."


  • Most of the theatres cancelled the shows till evening. Karnataka Film Exhibitors Association and Kannada film industry extended support for the bandh.


  • Many IT companies told their employees to work from home. 


  • Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said that there was no need to organise a bandh in the state over Cauvery row since the state was protecting the interests of the people. 







  • Pro-Kannada organisations, farmers' association leader Kurubur Shanthakumar, and other organisation leaders met Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and demanded a distress formula solution when there is less rain in the state.








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  • A few state-owned transport corporation buses plied in southern districts. The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) said there were only 59.88 per cent bus operations in southern parts of Karnataka. Cab aggregators including Ola and Uber extended their support to the bandh. Namma Metro in Bengaluru operated as usual with tightened security.