Karnataka Bandh LIVE updates: Schools, banks, hospitals to remain open despite bandh over Cauvery water-sharing row

Karnataka Bandh LIVE updates: DMK member Tiruchi Siva on Wednesday urged the Centre to reject a detailed project report of the Karnataka government on Mekedatu dam across the Cauvery river.

He said the project is a unilateral initiative by Karnataka and it does not have the concurrence of the lower riparian state of Tamil Nadu in the basin.

"Tamil Nadu State Assembly has unanimously passed the resolution against the said project. I hereby urge the government to not approve the DPR of the said project and constitute a tribunal with regard to Mekedatu dam to save the livelihood of farmers of Tamil Nadu," Siva said.

He said the project goes against the constitutional mandate of division of subjects, since the regulation of inter-state rivers is a union subject.

"It also fringes upon the principle laid down by the Supreme Court in 2007, which restricted upper riparian states to not take any action affecting scheduled deliveries of water to the lower riparian states," Siva said.

He said there have been instances of non-compliances of the Supreme Court orders and the tribunal award by Karnataka.

"Cauvery is a deficit basin with apportioned water. It has no surplus for the proposed reservoir without compromising with the basic needs of Tamil Nadu, which would drastically affect the farmers and their livelihood," Siva said.

via PTI

Karnataka Bandh LIVE updates: The Congress government in Karnataka has repeatedly failed to safeguard the state's interests on the Cauvery issue and has kept its own legal team out of the decision-making process, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy alleged on Wednesday.

Addressing a press conference here, Kumaraswamy strongly criticised the state government for failing to adequately consult and respect the senior legal counsel representing Karnataka before the Supreme Court and the Cauvery authorities and committees.

He referred to the meeting of Karnataka MPs convened by Chief Minister DK Shivakumar at Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi, where senior counsel Mohan Katarki was reportedly not even provided a chair and subsequently left the meeting. Kumaraswamy said the incident reflected the government's lack of seriousness in handling a matter of such importance.

He also criticised the manner in which legal experts were treated at the all-party meeting held subsequently at the Krishna office in Bengaluru.

"The views of our legal experts should have been sought at the very outset. Instead, the government proceeded without adequate legal or technical consultation. This is a clear indication of the lack of foresight and preparedness in the way the Cauvery issue is being handled," Kumaraswamy said.

via ANI

Karnataka Bandh LIVE updates: Farmers and Kannada organisations in Karnataka are protesting against the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) order directing the state to release 12,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days from August 12.

The CWMA has directed Karnataka to comply with the decision of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) to release 12,000 cusecs daily for 15 days, with the water to be realised at Biligundlu.

The order has triggered strong opposition among farmers and pro-Kannada groups, who have demanded that the Karnataka government refuse to implement it and take a firm stand against releasing further water to Tamil Nadu.

"We will observe Bandh at any cost. I appeal to everyone to support our call for strike," Vatal Nagaraj, convener of Kannada Chalavali Vatal Paksha told reporters.

The Mandya District Farmers' Welfare Protection Committee has announced a protest near the Visvesvaraya statue in Mandya on Wednesday, urging farmers, Kannada organisations, workers, women and citizens to participate.

"We have to protect the interests of Karnataka farmers. The government should not release water under any circumstances," a farmer leader said, calling the CWMA direction a threat to the state's water security.

via PTI

Karnataka Bandh LIVE updates: To ensure public safety and maintain law and order during the Karnataka Bandh, the Bengaluru City Police have made precautionary and security arrangements across the city. Adequate police deployment, patrolling and security measures have been put in place at important and sensitive locations.

The department said any act involving violence, threats, damage to public or private property, obstruction of road traffic or essential services, or any other act of taking the law into one's own hands will be dealt with "firmly and appropriately in accordance with the law."

via PTI

Karnataka Bandh LIVE updates: As the protests broke out in the Cauvery region over the water-sharing with Tamil Nadu, Karnataka chief minister DK Shivakumar said the state government has the duty to protect the state's farmers and abide by court orders, and the government will decide on it after assessing the situation.

"I know that 12,000 cusecs orders have come. I'm also monitoring our inflow. Considering our situation, I have the duty to protect our farmers. We must protect our farmers and also abide by the court orders. Keeping both these aspects in mind, I will discuss with the irrigation minister and officials," Shivakumar said.

via PTI

Karnataka Bandh LIVE updates: While the schools will operate per normal on August 13 during Karnataka Bandh, the school managements, teaching staff and non-teaching employees have been asked to wear black ribbons or black strips as a mark of solidarity, The News Minute reported.

Karnataka Bandh LIVE Updates: Schools will operate per normal on August 13 during Karnataka Bandh, The News Minute reported, citing Karnataka Associated Managements of Schools (KAMS). The body had earlier called for the closure of schools, but later rolled back the call, saying that it would impact the academic schedules.

Banks, hospitals, pharmacies and public transport and other essential services are likely to remain unaffected during the statewide bandh that will remain in effective from 6 am to 6 pm on August 13.

Karnataka Bandh LIVE Updates: Karnataka bandh will be observed for 12 hours from 6 am to 6 pm on Thursday, August 13.

Karnataka Bandh LIVE Updates: Several farmer leaders and Kanada organisations are protesting against the Cauvery water-sharing with Tamil Nadu after the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) order directing the state to release 12,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days from August 12.

The CWMA has directed Karnataka to comply with the decision of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) to release 12,000 cusecs daily for 15 days, with the water to be realised at Biligundlu.

Karnataka Bandh LIVE Updates: The Bengaluru City Police have appealed for calm and cooperation ahead of the 'Karnataka Bandh' called for August 13, 2026, in protest against the Cauvery Water Management Authority's order on Cauvery water allocation to Tamil Nadu.

In a press note issued, the Commissioner of Police said several organisations have called for the bandh, while other organisations have informed police that they are not supporting it.

The Bengaluru City Police stated that they fully respect citizens' democratic right to protest peacefully within the law. At the same time, police said it is equally important to respect the right of other citizens to carry out daily activities without obstruction.

"All organisations and members of the public are requested to cooperate with the Bengaluru City Police in maintaining peace, public order and normalcy in the city," the note said.

via PTI

Karnataka Bandh LIVE Updates: Karnataka will observe a day-long bandh today in protest against the Cauvery water-sharing row. This comes after the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) order directing the state to release 12,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days from August 12.