Cauvery crisis hits Bangalore, IT hub on edge

Bangalore, Oct 5: India's IT hub Bangalore is on the edge. Protesters belonging to various organisations have geared up to stage rallies across the city to protest against sharing of

river water with neighbouring state

on Friday, Oct 5. Protest rallies are likely to start from 11 am.

Members belonging to various organisations are going to stage protest marches in southern and central parts of the city. Police have said adequate security measures are in place to ensure safety and security. However, Bangalore will experience huge traffic snarls and disruptions as protesters will carry out rallies in prominent arterial roads of the city.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa is expected to take 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), will also be a part of the protest marches. Several prominent social leaders, seers and actors will join protesters during the day.

Moreover, Kannada organisations have called a state bandh on Saturday.

On Wednesday, over 5,000 Karnataka activists and farmer groups laid siege to the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) Dam. The government had enforced prohibitory orders in a 1 km radius around the dam. Rapid Action Force companies were also deployed.

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