Updated

Bengaluru, Apr 18 (PTI): Normal life in the country's IT capital and several parts of Karnataka was crippled today as a 12-hour statewide bandh called by pro-Kannada outfits to protest Tamil Nadu's opposition to Mekedatu drinking water project across the river Cauvery, began.

Bus, auto and taxi services were badly hit in Bengaluru, causing hardship to commuters, leaving thousands stranded at many places.

Initial reports said the bandh had evoked a good response in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Tumkuru, Mandya and several other places, where activists of pro-Kannada organisations staged protests.

In Bengaluru, commercial establishments remained closed as also the shopping malls in support of the bandh, which the organisers have claimed has the backing of about 600 to 700 Kannada organisations.

Auto drivers and truck operators and owners of petrol bunks, hotels, restaurants and the film industry are backing the bandh.

The dawn-to-dusk bandh is a show of strength of the people of Karnataka against Tamil Nadu, Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha President Vatal Nagaraj, whose Kannada outfit is spearheading the protest, said.

Buses bound for Tamil Nadu from Bengaluru also did not operate, as also those proceeding to other parts within the state, officials said.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said the government is not supporting the bandh but the state is determined to go ahead with the Mekedatu project and appealed to people to maintain peace.

A protest march is being held later in the day from Town Hall in the city which will culminate at the Freedom Park after which a delegation will meet the Chief Minister and submit him a memorandum demanding that the project be taken up immediately.

Siddaramaiah in his budget speech, presented on March 13, has proposed preparing a detailed project report for construction of balancing reservoir on the upstream of Mekedatu across Cauvery river in Ramanagara district.

He had said Global Expression of Interest had been invited, and Rs 25 crore provided in the coming fiscal.

Farmers' bodies in Tamil Nadu had called for state band on March 28 over the issue to which several state political parties had expressed their support.

Tamil Nadu Assembly had also adopted a unanimous resolution urging Centre to rein in Karnataka from going ahead with its plan to build the dam across the inter-state river.

Police have beefed up security in the city, with the deployment of Karnataka State Reserve Police and City Armed Reserve, apart from the regular police personnel.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner M N Reddi said all precautionary measures had been taken and warned that no one will be allowed to violate law.

Earlier Report

Karnataka to observe bandh on Saturday over Cauvery issue

Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (RJP)

Bengaluru, Apr 18 : Normal life in Karnataka is likely to be affected on Saturday April 18 as pro-Kannada outfits have called for a statewide bandh to protest Tamil Nadu's opposition to Mekedatu drinking water project across river Cauvery. The bandh has been called between dawn-to-dusk.

Auto drivers, truck operators, petrol bunks, hotels, restaurants and malls and also the film industry have supported the bandh, the organizers claimed.

"The bandh call given by Kannada Okkuta has got unprecedented support. About 600 to 700 organisations from across the state are supporting the cause," said Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha President Vatal Nagaraj, whose outfit is spearheading the protest.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has requested that peace be maintained during the bandh, while asserting that the state was determined to go ahead with the Mekedatu project.

"Different organisations have called for bandh. Government is not supporting it. I request everyone to maintain peace during the bandh and no one should violate law and order. We will go ahead with the Mekedatu project. we have made all required preparations for it."

A protest march will start from Town Hall in the city and culminate at the Freedom Park, following which a delegation will meet the chief minister and submit a memorandum demanding that the project be taken up immediately.

Siddaramaiah in his budget speech, presented on March 13 this year , has proposed preparing a detailed project report for construction of the balancing reservoir on upstream of Mekedatu across Cauvery river in Ramanagara district. He had said Global Expression of Interest had been invited and Rs 25 crore provided in the coming fiscal.

Farmers' bodies in Tamil Nadu had organised a state-wide band on March 28 over the issue to which several state political parties had expressed their support.

Tamil Nadu assembly had also adopted a unanimous resolution urging Centre to rein in the upper riparian state of Karnataka from going ahead with its plan to build the dam across the river. Its Chief Minister O Panneerselvam had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to advise Karnataka not to build new dams across the Cauvery at Mekedatu, saying it would affect his state.

Bengaluru City Police Chief M N Reddi said all precautionary measures had been taken and warned that no one will be allowed to violate law.

He said about 30 platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police force, as also City Armed Reserve, Home Guards, and all police and traffic personnel in the city have been mobilised.

"No one should force someone to observe bandh. It should be voluntarily observed by those who want to support it. All required measures have been taken to maintain peace and stop any untoward incidents." (with PTI inputs)

Coastal districts - Support lukewarm

Much support has not been displayed for the state bandh from the coastal districts.

S Pradeep Kumar Kalkura, the district president of Kannada Sahitya Parishad has said that the Parishad has pledged support for the state bandh. The district unit of state government employees' association has also pledged its support. KSRTC bus services have been affected.

Dakshina Kannada bus owners' association has said that they have neither been approached by anyone for support nor they have extended their support for the bandh. Hence, private buses have been plying as usual in the district.

Sahyadri Samrakshana Sanchaya,Kannada Katte and Karnataka Rakshana Vedike in the districts have openly said that they do not support the bandh or participate in the bandh due to lack of support the twin districts received when river diversification debate was going on. As these are pro-Kannada outfits of the districts, it is obvious that the support for the bandh in the region is totally lukewarm.

Security measures have been beefed up throughout the twin districts.