Bangalore comes to a standstill, protesters hit streets

Bangalore, Oct 5: India's IT hub Bangalore came to a standstill on Friday, Oct 5 as protesters hit the streets to vent out their anger. Protesters belonging to various Kannada groups are demanding to stop the release of

river water to the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu.

As large numbers of protesters took over Bangalore's streets, traffic movement in the city came to a complete halt. Traffic snarls have been reported from various arterial roads of the city. However, it is the central and southern parts of the city which have been affected the most. Because of traffic jams, many office-goers and school going children had to endure difficulties in reaching their work stations.

"I am caught in a traffic jam. I am worried, as my daughter is waiting for me to pick her up from her school. I don't know when I am going to reach her school," said Padma P, a worried mother of a Kindergarten student, near Town Hall in Bangalore, around 1.30 pm.

Protest rallies started in the city from 11.30 am onwards.

Several prominent social leaders, seers and actors joined protesters during the day.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa also took out a massive rally along with his supporters in Bangalore to protest against release of Cauvery water. Several political leaders, including those from Janata Dal (Secular), joined protest marches. Even Advocates Association supported the protest.

More trouble awaits Bangaloreans as there is going to be a state wide bandh on Saturday.

Kannada organisations have called the state bandh to protest against release of water from Cauvery river to Tamil Nadu.

Karnataka has been releasing water from Krishna Raja Sagar and Kabini dams to ensure flow of 9,000 cusecs [Cusec is a measure of flow rate and is informal shorthand for cubic feet per second (1 cusecs = 28.317 litres per second)] of water to the neighbouring state since Sunday.

As per the Supreme Court order, Karnataka has to release water from Cauvery to its neighbouring state daily till Oct 15.

The Supreme Court order has not been taken lightly by the people of the state. Vehicular movements and train services between Bangalore and Mysore have been disrupted due to protests in Karnataka over Cauvery issue.

The BJP government in Karnataka has come under severe criticism for agreeing to release water.

The state government on Thursday moved the apex court seeking a stay on the Cauvery River Authority (CRA) order to release 9,000 cusecs of water to TN daily. Two central teams reached Karnataka and TN to assess water levels.

The CRA is chaired by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

OneIndia News