Pro-Kannada outfits announce statewide bandh on August 13 over Cauvery water release

Pro-Kannada organisations announced a statewide bandh in Karnataka on August 13 to protest the Cauvery Water Management Authority's (CWMA) direction to release 3,500 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days.

The announcement was made by pro-Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj following a meeting of pro-Kannada organisations held under his leadership in Bengaluru to chart the future course of protests against the water release.

Addressing a press conference here, Nagaraj said the Karnataka bandh would be observed from 6 am to 6 pm on August 13. "Let us all make Karnataka Bandh a grand success from Belagavi to Chamarajanagar," he said, appealing to the public to cooperate and support the shutdown.

Nagaraj also criticised political parties he accused of using the Cauvery order for political gain.

The organisations opposed the release of water to Tamil Nadu, arguing that Karnataka itself is facing a water shortage and that the release would adversely affect the state's farmers.

The CWMA had upheld a recommendation by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) to release 3,500 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days.

(With inputs from PTI