Cauvery Water Row: Bengaluru Bandh Tomorrow. What’s Open, What’s Closed?

Daily life is likely to be hit on Tuesday in Bengaluru as several farmer outfits and pro-Kannada organisations have called for a 12-hour ‘bandh’ or shutdown to protest against the decision of the Karnataka government to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

BJP and JD(S) have declared their support to the agitation and bandh call. Besides, KSRTC (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation) workers federation, three auto and taxi associations and the Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka have declared their support to the shutdown call.

The pro-Kannada organisations have also appealed to schools, colleges, owners of commercial establishments and factories to back their bandh call. The outfits have planned a massive rally from the Town Hall to SBM Circle in Bengaluru.

READ | Farmers Wade Into Cauvery Waters To Stage Protest Amid Row Over Sharing Water

Why Have Pro-Kannada Outfits Given The ‘Bandh’ Call?

The protests by pro-Kannada outfits stem from the direction of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) to Karnataka to continue releasing 5,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

Karnataka failed to get relief from the Supreme Court as well, as the top court refused to interfere with the CWMA order. Karnataka has maintained that a deficient south-west monsoon has led to a drought-like situation in the Cauvery basin areas.

The organisations have demanded an immediate halt to release of Cauvery water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

Bangalore Bandh: What Services Will Be Open?

Namma Metro

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited said metro services across the city would run as usual on Tuesday and there would be no disruptions.

Emergency And Essential Services

All emergency services like hospitals and medical stores will be operational. Ambulances and vehicles carrying essential items will be plying as usual.

Bangalore Bandh: What Services Will Be Closed?

Bus Services 

Bus services will be affected in Bengaluru as the government-operated Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) have decided to suspend their operations.

Taxi, Ola, Uber Services

Ola, Uber Drivers and Owners Association has declared their support for the bandh and a major chunk of cabs will be off the roads on Tuesday. Airport cabs are also likely to be affected due to the shutdown call.

Restaurants, Hotels 

Several hotel and restaurant associations like the Bruhath Bangalore Hotels Association have extended their support to the bandh and are likey to shut shop on Tuesday, a report in Hindustan Times said.

Movie Theatres

The film industry has backed the organisations and movie theatres and halls are expected to remain shut on September 26.