Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Kannada groups split over Cauvery water bandh call
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu share a big river called the Cauvery.
A group called CWMA told Karnataka to send a lot of water from the river to Tamil Nadu.
A leader named Vatal Nagaraj thinks this is unfair to Karnataka, so he asked everyone to stop work for a day.
This kind of shutdown is called a bandh.
Some groups agree with him, but many others do not want to join.
Bus companies, auto drivers, street vendors and schools say they will work as usual.
A farmers' association supports him because they feel Karnataka is being treated unfairly.
The Karnataka government says there has not been enough rain this year, so the state cannot spare so much water.
Because so many groups are staying away, the bandh may not be a full shutdown.
Vatal Nagaraj, president of the Federation of Kannada Organisations, called a bandh for Thursday against the CWMA's direction to release 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
The federation is divided, with many organisations, including a faction of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike led by Praveen Shetty, backing off and offering only moral support.
BMTC and KSRTC employees' associations, private bus associations, transporters, autorickshaw associations and street vendors will not join the bandh, and schools will function as usual.
Raitha Hitarakshana Samithi and a few other farmers' associations support the bandh, saying injustice has been meted out to Karnataka.
The CWMA-ordered release of 12,000 cusecs of water for 15 days began Wednesday morning, while the Karnataka government contends rainfall shortage does not favour releasing so much water.
- Who
- Vatal Nagaraj, president of the Federation of Kannada Organisations, Praveen Shetty of a Karnataka Rakshana Vedike faction, Raitha Hitarakshana Samithi, the CWMA and the Karnataka government.
- What
- A bandh (total shutdown) called to protest the CWMA's direction to release 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, with many organisations backing out.
- When
- The bandh was announced for Thursday (Aug 13) in a PTI report dated August 12; the water release began Wednesday morning.
- Where
- Bengaluru, Karnataka.
- Why
- To protest the CWMA's water release order, which protesters and the Karnataka government say is unjust to Karnataka given the shortage of rainfall, especially in the Cauvery region.
Bandh supporters
Organisations backing off
The bandh call
Bandh supporters
Vatal Nagaraj and supporters such as Raitha Hitarakshana Samithi say injustice has been meted out to Karnataka and a total shutdown is needed to oppose the water release.
Organisations backing off
Many federation-affiliated organisations, including a Karnataka Rakshana Vedike faction, transport and autorickshaw associations and schools, say they cannot support the bandh under current circumstances and will only offer moral support.
Cauvery water release
Bandh supporters
The Karnataka government says the situation in the state does not favour releasing so much water because of a shortage of rainfall, especially in the Cauvery region.
Organisations backing off
The CWMA directed Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery water for 15 days to Tamil Nadu, and the release began Wednesday morning.
- Protesting leader
- Vatal Nagaraj, Federation of Kannada Organisations president
- Bandh date
- Thursday (Aug 13), announced on Aug 12
- Cause
- CWMA direction to release 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days
- Water release
- 12,000 cusecs for 15 days, started Wednesday morning
- Supporting the bandh
- Raitha Hitarakshana Samithi and a few other farmers' associations
- Not supporting the bandh
- BMTC and KSRTC employees' associations, private bus/auto associations, transporters, street vendors, schools
- State government's stand
- Rainfall shortage, especially in the Cauvery region, does not favour releasing so much water
- Location
- Bengaluru, Karnataka
