Cauvery Water Row: Schools, Colleges to Remain Closed Today in Bengaluru, Mandya In View of ‘Karnataka Bandh’

Due to the ‘Karnataka Bandh’ called by various farmer organizations over the Cauvery water row issue, schools and colleges in Mandya and Bengaluru will remain closed on Friday.

Deputy Commissioner Mandya, Dr. Kumar, stated, “In view of the bandh called by pro-Kannada organizations, farmer unions, and several other organizations tomorrow (Friday) regarding the Cauvery water issue, Section 144 has been imposed in Mandya district, and schools and colleges will remain closed tomorrow.”

Simultaneously, Deputy Commissioner Dayanand KA announced that a holiday has been declared for all schools and colleges in Bengaluru City on Saturday, saying, “As the ‘Karnataka Bandh’ call has been given by various organizations tomorrow, a holiday has been declared for all schools and colleges in Bengaluru City tomorrow (Friday).”

Protests in Karnataka have escalated following the Cauvery Regulatory Committee’s decision to release 3000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu. Demonstrators are passionately asserting their claim to the Cauvery River.

In a separate incident, activists from the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) staged a massive protest in Bengaluru against the state MPs and the Siddaramaiah Government regarding the Cauvery River water issue. Chanting “Cauvery Is Ours,” the KRV activists protested the release of river water to Tamil Nadu.

Ashwini Gowda, President of KRV Women’s Wing, emphasized the need for unity among Kannadigas and demanded that elected state MPs either advocate for Karnataka or resign from their posts.

In another episode, amidst the ongoing Cauvery River water sharing dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, members of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike Swabhimani Sene interrupted a press conference held by actor Siddharth to promote his film in Bengaluru. They requested him to leave, citing the inappropriateness of the event while Tamil Nadu was demanding Cauvery River water from Karnataka.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed his disappointment with the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s recommendation, directing Karnataka to release 3000 cusecs of Cauvery water at Biligundlu from September 28 to October 15, 2023.

He announced, “Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee (CWRC) ordered to release 3000 cusecs of water; I have already spoken to our advocates. They have suggested us to challenge this order in the Supreme Court. We will challenge it in the Supreme Court. We don’t have water to release to Tamil Nadu. We are challenging the orders of the CWRC.”

The Cauvery river’s water-sharing dispute has been a contentious issue between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for decades. Both states have been locked in a battle over the allocation of water from the Cauvery river, which is a critical source of irrigation and drinking water for millions of people in the region.

The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) was formed by the Centre on June 2, 1990, to arbitrate disputes among Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Puducherry concerning water-sharing arrangements.

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