Life disrupted in southern Indian state as state shutdown due to water crisis

By Shuriah Niazi

NEW DELHI (AA) - Life was disrupted Friday in Karnataka in southern India because of a shutdown of the state against the release of water from the Cauvery River to the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu.

Transport and air services were badly affected in towns.

As many as 44 flights were canceled to and from the Bengaluru International Airport, according to authorities.

Educational institutions remained closed because of the shutdown. Additional police were deployed across the state to maintain law and order.

Members of farmer organizations were detained in the state’s capital of Bengaluru as protests were staged against the Cauvery water issue.

“Karnataka bandh (shutdown) is totally peaceful. No untoward incident was reported from any place in the state. All the people are cooperating. We have given full protection to everyone,” Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Doddalahalli Kempegowda Shivakumar told reporters.

The farmers were demanding the release of water should be stopped given the prevailing drought conditions in the state.

The call for the shutdown was given by farmers who opposed the Supreme Court's decision not to interfere in the enforcement of water-sharing agreements between the two states and decisions by the Cauvery Water Management Authority and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee.

The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee allowed Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs (85 cubic meters/second) of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu from Sept. 28 to Oct. 15.

Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have staked claims to substantial portions of water to meet agricultural and irrigation needs.