Mandya Bandh Call Over Cauvery Water Issue Sees Shops Shut Across The District

Mandya Bandh: In response to a bandh call given by pro-Kannada organisations and farmers' associations, several shops and businesses remained shut on Saturday across Mandya District, also known as the heartland of the Cauvery region. The bandh was called to protest against the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu from dams in Karnataka.

The bandh was successful, with most shops and businesses in the city remaining closed. Public transportation was also affected by the bandh.

Officials from the irrigation department informed PTI that Karnataka was adhering to the Cauvery Water Management Authority's directive by releasing 5,000 cusecs of water to the neighboring state.

Protesters, expressing their discontent over the perceived injustice to Mandya, where the Krishnaraja Sagar Dam is located, marched through the streets, calling on the public, especially shopkeepers and owners of various commercial establishments, including petrol and diesel service stations, to cooperate in observing a total bandh.

In response to the appeal by activists, the majority of shops decided to remain shut, while those that opened initially subsequently closed down.

A significant protest unfolded at Sanjay Circle in the town, where members of Mandya Rakshana Vedike, a fringe group, organized a bike rally, marched, chanted slogans, staged a sit-in demonstration, and blocked roads to highlight their grievances regarding the perceived injustice to Mandya and Karnataka.

Security has been bolstered in the town, with a heavy police presence at vital locations.

The Janata Dal (Secular) has expressed its support for the Mandya bandh.

The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) had instructed Karnataka to continue releasing 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for an additional 15 days. This directive followed a recommendation by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) made the previous week.

Protests have erupted in various parts of the state after the Supreme Court declined to interfere with the orders from the CWMA and CWRC, which directed Karnataka to release 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu.

Amid ongoing protests in the state regarding the Cauvery issue with Tamil Nadu, the Karnataka government pledged to take all necessary measures to protect the interests of the state's residents and farmers by ensuring a supply of water for both agricultural and drinking purposes. Karnataka has asserted that it cannot release water due to its own requirements for drinking water and irrigation in the Cauvery basin regions, exacerbated by water scarcity caused by deficient monsoon rains.