Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Cauvery water row: Bengaluru unaffected by pro-Kannada bandh call
The Cauvery is a very big river in southern India.
Two states, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, share the river's water.
This year there was not much rain, so the river has less water.
A special group called the Cauvery Water Management Authority told Karnataka to send some of its water to Tamil Nadu.
Some people in Karnataka were not happy about this.
They asked everyone to close their shops and stay home for a day.
But most schools, offices, buses and shops stayed open anyway.
Many taxi drivers and business owners said talks and courts are better than protests.
Karnataka's leaders are going to ask the Supreme Court, India's highest court, to change the order.
Everyone is being told to stay calm so that no one gets hurt.
Schools, colleges, offices and transport functioned normally in Bengaluru despite a statewide bandh called by pro-Kannada groups over Cauvery water sharing.
The Cauvery Water Management Authority on August 11 directed Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days, totalling about 15 TMC.
Karnataka said it will challenge the CWMA order in the Supreme Court, citing a weak monsoon with its four reservoirs receiving 77.746 TMC, about 47 per cent below the 30-year average.
The Praveen Shetty faction of pro-Kannada groups, along with transporters, hoteliers, taxi drivers and industry groups, withdrew support for the bandh.
Under the 2018 Supreme Court verdict, Karnataka must release 123.14 TMC to Tamil Nadu between June and September, but is behind schedule this year.
- Who
- Pro-Kannada groups led by former MLA Vatal Nagaraj called the bandh; Karnataka (led by Chief Minister D K Shivakumar) and Tamil Nadu are the disputing states; the CWMA issued the water release orders.
- What
- A statewide bandh protesting the CWMA order directing Karnataka to release Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu, which left Bengaluru largely unaffected.
- When
- The bandh was held on a Thursday, the same day the Karnataka Assembly monsoon session was scheduled to begin, following the CWMA's August 11 order.
- Where
- Bengaluru and other parts of Karnataka, involving the Cauvery river basin shared between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
- Why
- A weak monsoon reduced inflows into Cauvery reservoirs, while Tamil Nadu demanded its share of water under the 2018 Supreme Court verdict, which Karnataka argues it cannot fully release.
Karnataka's Position
Tamil Nadu's Position
Release of Cauvery Water
Karnataka's Position
Karnataka says deficient monsoon, dwindling inflows and limited storage leave no scope for further release, needs water for drinking, essential uses and Kharif agriculture, and sought reduction from 12,000 to 10,000 cusecs daily.
Tamil Nadu's Position
Tamil Nadu argues it is not justified for Karnataka to hold one year's drinking-water requirement for Bengaluru as a contingency against a worst-case scenario, and has sought 37 TMC by August-end against the allotted 15 TMC.
Response to the CWMA Order
Karnataka's Position
Pro-Kannada groups called a statewide bandh, while the Karnataka government says it will challenge the CWMA order in the Supreme Court, having resisted it on grounds of a weak monsoon.
Tamil Nadu's Position
Tamil Nadu sought CWRC intervention because Karnataka is behind schedule on its June-September release obligation and maintains its claim to a legitimate share under the 2018 Supreme Court verdict.
Protest vs. Legal Means
Karnataka's Position
Some pro-Kannada groups believe a statewide bandh is necessary to press Karnataka's case on Cauvery water sharing.
Tamil Nadu's Position
The Karnataka government, taxi owners, transporters, hoteliers and industry groups favour legal, administrative and constitutional measures, saying bandhs cause economic hardship and take the law into one's own hands.
- Bandh call
- Statewide bandh by pro-Kannada groups led by veteran activist and former MLA Vatal Nagaraj
- CWMA order (Aug 11)
- Release 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days (about 15 TMC)
- Earlier CWMA order (Jul 30)
- Release 4.5 TMC of water over 15 days
- Karnataka's next step
- Challenge the CWMA order in the Supreme Court this week
- Karnataka annual obligation
- 123.14 TMC to Tamil Nadu between June and September (2018 Supreme Court verdict)
- Karnataka reservoir storage
- Four Cauvery reservoirs received 77.746 TMC, about 47% below the 30-year average
- Tamil Nadu's demand
- 37 TMC by August-end against the allotted 15 TMC
- 2018 SC allocation
- Tamil Nadu 404.25 TMC, Karnataka 284.75 TMC, Kerala 30 TMC, Puducherry 7 TMC, environment 14 TMC (out of 740 TMC)