Kannada groups back August 13 Karnataka bandh over Mekedatu dispute

Two states in India, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, are arguing about a big water project called Mekedatu.

Karnataka wants to build a reservoir on a river to make sure the big city of Bengaluru has enough drinking water.

Tamil Nadu says no, because it is worried about the same river and the water it needs further downstream.

Because of this argument, people in Karnataka plan to hold a bandh, which is a day when most things stay closed to show they are upset.

A bandh has been called for August 13 across the state.

A famous activist named Vatal Nagaraj is asking everyone who lives in Bengaluru to join the protest, no matter where they are from.

He says without this project the city will run out of drinking water.

Some people already blocked a road near Anekal to protest, and the police took them away.

But not everyone agrees about the protest.

Some groups say they will hold a protest in New Delhi instead, and others say they will not join the bandh at all.

So it is still not clear how many people will take part.