Mandya Bandh On September 23: What's Open and Closed?

Mandya Bandh: The Mandya District Farmers' Welfare Forum has called for a city-wide shutdown in Mandya on September 23 following the Supreme Court's refusal to intervene in the orders issued by the CWMA (Cauvery Water Management Authority) and CWRC (Cauvery Water Regulation Committee).

As a result of the bandh, the following is expected:

Closed:

• Businesses and Shops: It is likely that many businesses and shops in Mandya and Mysuru are closed as a result of the protests.
• Public Transportation: Public transportation services may be disrupted due to the protests, affecting bus and other modes of public travel.
• Highway Blockades: Protesters have blocked the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway, causing disruptions in vehicular movement.

Open:

• Emergency Services: Essential services such as hospitals and pharmacies are expected to remain open to cater to emergency medical needs.
• Government Offices: Government offices may continue to operate, but they could be affected by the protests in terms of accessibility and functioning.
• Legal Proceedings: Legal proceedings, including the hearing of the petition against the release of water to Tamil Nadu in the Supreme Court, are expected to continue as scheduled.

Please note that the situation may change rapidly, and it is advisable to stay updated through local news sources for the latest information on closures and disruptions caused by the protests.

Protests flared up in the heartland of the Cauvery region- Mandya and Mysuru, on Thursday following the Supreme Court's refusal to intervene in the orders issued by the CWMA (Cauvery Water Management Authority) and CWRC (Cauvery Water Regulation Committee). These directives mandated Karnataka to release 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for the ensuing 15 days.

Farmers and representatives from various organisations took to the streets in opposition to the Supreme Court's directives. The Raitha Hitharakshana Samiti has called for a Mandya bandh on Saturday in response. Protesters formed human chains at prominent junctions and obstructed the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway.

Members of the Raitha Hitharakshana Samiti and sugarcane growers from the Mysugar factory in Achukat submitted a memorandum to officials at the Mandya Deputy Commissioner's office. They urged the government not to release water to the neighboring state, citing insufficient water levels in the KRS (Krishnaraja Sagar) and Kabini reservoirs. They described the directives to Karnataka as unscientific and expressed concerns that releasing water could lead to water scarcity in Mysuru, Mandya, Bengaluru, and other districts within the Cauvery basin.