BENGALURU: Pro-Kannada organisations have called for a statewide Karnataka bandh on August 13 from 6am to 6pm, protesting the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s (CWMA) direction to release water to Tamil Nadu.Former MLA and Federation of Pro-Kannada Organisations president Vatal Nagaraj appealed to businesses, associations and other organisations to extend their support and cooperate with the bandh.The organisations have opposed the release of Cauvery water, stating that Karnataka itself is facing a shortage and that the decision would adversely impact farmers across the state.Kannada organisations have also threatened to attack airport on August 3 to protest the proposed visit of Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay to Bengaluru for talks with Karnataka chief minister DK Shivakumar. Protest leaders argued that there was no justification for holding discussions with the Tamil Nadu chief minister when Karnataka itself was facing water stress and being asked to release Cauvery water. The groups said the airport protest was aimed at opposing Vijay’s visit and conveying their resistance to any move that could compromise Karnataka’s interests on the Cauvery and Mekedatu issues.In a statement, the groups said the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) had recommended that Karnataka release 3,500 cusecs of water per day for 15 days, amounting to nearly 5 TMC of water. They claimed that complying with the order would create difficulties for people in Karnataka, especially amid concerns over water availability.The call for a bandh came after the CWMA on Thursday rejected Karnataka’s plea and upheld the CWRC’s recommendation to release 3,500 cusecs of Cauvery water daily to Tamil Nadu for the next 15 days.Karnataka had argued that the state was facing an acute drought situation and a drinking water crisis, making it difficult to comply with the directive.Following the CWMA decision, the Karnataka government called an all-party meeting on August 2, as political parties, farmers’ groups and Kannada organisations came together to oppose the order.
