Bangalore: Normal life in the country’s IT capital and several parts of Karnataka was crippled today as a 12-hour state-wide bandh called by pro-Kannada outfits to protest Tamil Nadu’s opposition to Mekedatu drinking water project across the river Cauvery began.
Both Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) officials confirmed that they will play less number of buses compared to regular days. However, both corporations will follow police guidance and may stop functioning following the law and order situation in the city and other parts of the state.
Pro-Kannada organisations call for state-wide bandh on April 18 Meanwhile, Pradeep Singh Kharola, the Managing Director of the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation, was quoted as saying, “We are keeping a close watch on the situation and depending on what the police suggest, we will decide whether to ply less trains or not play at all.
Autos and taxis will not be available in Bangalore as Auto Drivers Union, Truck Drivers Union and Tourist Taxi Owners Association extended full support to the bandh. What all will be closed tomorrow? All schools, colleges, banks, IT companies and most of the government offices, all shops will be closed on Saturday. What will be open tomorrow? All hospitals, medical shops will be open when the city and the state will observe 12-hour bandh.
Protesters will not bar ambulances in case of emergency. Taxi union also informed that emergency services will ply to the airport. Taxi aggregators, such as Taxi For Sure, said their services will function normally. Why Bangalore and Karnataka will observe bandh on Saturday? Pro-Kannada organisations called for the bandh to protestagainst the Tamil Nadu government which attempted to stall the Mekedatu drinking water project across the Cauvery. Tamil Nadu recently on March 28 also had observed bandh protesting against Karnataka’s move to build a dam across the Cauvery in Mekedatu.
Bureau Report
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