Karnataka Bandh LIVE: Bus Services Hit, Metro Unaffected; Schools in Mandya, Bengaluru Closed

The organisations are angry with the Centre's alleged disinterest resolving the dispute with neighbouring state of Goa.

What is the Mahadayi dispute: 

* Mahadayi river is known as Mandovi river in Goa. The state capital Panaji is on the banks of Mandovi river. It is one of the smallest rivers in India. * This rain-fed river originates at Bhimghad in Belgaum district of Karnataka. It flows first 35km through Karnataka and remaining 52km through Goa before joining Arabian Sea. Bordering areas of Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra depend on Mahadayi for their water needs. * Renowned water expert the late SG Balekundri first planned Mahadayi water diversion in 1970. The plan was to feed Malaprabha river and store the water in Navilatirtha dam in Karnataka's Dharwad district. This dam, built in the 1970s, has not been filled to its capacity, except three or four times. * When S M Krishna was the Chief Minister of Karnataka he started the work in 2002. The BJP government in Goa led by CM Manohar Parrikar had objected to it.

Have a look at the deserted Majestic bus stop. Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation has suspended its services after activists stopped buses at the main Majestic bus station and offloaded passengers around 7.30-8 am. Auto rickshaws and taxi services are off-road. People are mostly depending on private vehicles. (Image: Network18)

People are mostly dependent on private vehicles. Normal life has partially affected Karnataka following the state-wide and called by several pro-Kannada outfits demanding the Prime Minister's intervention in the inter-state Mahadayi river water dispute with Goa. (Image: Network18)

Road roko protest going on in Attibele, near Karnataka-TN border. The dawn-to-dusk bandh is expected to be in total in the northern districts that come under Malaprabha river basin. In other parts, normal life may be disrupted as certain public services are expected to decide on their operations, depending on the situation.

Mahadayi is one of India's smallest rivers, but has sparked a major confrontation between Goa and Karnataka.

Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation has suspended its services after activists stopped buses at the main Majestic bus station and off loaded passengers around 7.30-8 am. "We will monitor the situation on an hourly basis and see if they can resume services," BMTC official said. 

#Visuals from Bengaluru: Bus services suspended after state-wide bandh called in #Karnataka over Mahadayi water dispute pic.twitter.com/dxTKIOGLWL

— ANI (@ANI) January 25, 2018

Apart from the above Universities, some private schools are reported to be shut on 25th January, tomorrow although the education department has maintained that there is no official holiday due to Karnataka Bandh.

Scenes from market area Malleshwaram, where all shops closed and people are playing cricket on the street... The Taj hotel adds in a Kannada flag along with its other flags... Few autos are plying on road. (Image: Network18)

"We are currently running trains on both lines at a constant headway of 10 minutes. Depending on the rush, will increase the frequency. At 8.00 am, few people gathered at Majestic station, but dispersed after intervention by civil police. So far no other incidents reported," Namma Metro CPRO said in a tweet.  

We are currently running train on both lines at constant headway of 10 minutes.Depending on the rush will increase the frequency .At 8.00 am few people gathered at Majestic station, but dispersed after intervention by civil police. So far no other incidents reported.

— Namma Metro CPRO (@uavasanthrao) January 25, 2018

Opposition BJP has termed the bandh as "politically motivated" and accused government's role in the selection of dates when BJP national President Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are visiting the poll-bound state to take part in 'Nav Karnataka Parivartan Yatra' of the state unit. Pro-Kannada outfits have called for a Karnataka bandh today when Shah will address a rally in Mysuru and a Bengaluru bandh on February 4, the day Modi arrives in the city to address a public meeting. In a tit-for-tat move to the bandh during visits of Shah and Modi, the party's state unit decided to observe district specific shutdown during Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's state tour. Gandhi will kick-start his campaign for the upcoming assembly polls on February 10. "We have decided that when Rahul Gandhi comes to Karnataka, we will call for a complete bandh in those districts he will be visiting,"BJP state President B S Yeddyurappa said in Madikeri.

Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation has suspended its services after activists stopped buses at the main Majestic bus station and off loaded passengers around 7.30-8 am. "We will monitor the situation on an hourly basis and see if they can resume services," BMTC official said. Several examinations have also been rescheduled. The film industry and multiplexes are likely to stop operations today. Petrol bunks, banks and agriculture Produce Marketing Committees are expected to function as usual.

Schools in South districts (Bangalore, Mandya) have declared a holiday.  Normal life is likely to be hit in Karnataka today following the state-wide bandh called by several pro-Kannada outfits demanding the Prime Minister's intervention in the inter-state Mahadayi river water dispute with Goa. The dawn-to-dusk bandh is expected to be in total in the northern districts that come under Malaprabha river basin.

What won't  get affected: 

The Mahadayi river dispute bandh has partially affected life in Karnataka. * Schools are functioning in North Karnataka districts like Gulbarga. * Trains and metro service will run undisrupted. *Taxi and cab services are not in favour of the band.  * Hospitals and clinics are expected to function normally, with Indian Medical Association office bearers stating that they will be extending moral support by wearing a black band. * Petrol bunks, banks and agriculture Produce Marketing Committees are expected to function as usual.

Wipro closed on Mahadayi River Dispute Bandh in Karnataka

On account of the shutdown called by various organisations, as a precautionary measure, Wipro limited has declared a holiday for its employees in Karnataka today. Shops and establishments downed shutters, schools and colleges were closed and buses and other means of transport were off the roads in the districts of Gadag, Dharwad, Belagavi, Haveri and Bagalkot across the Malaprabha river basin and its neighbouring areas, officials said. Pro-Kannada organisations, including the Kannada film industry, backed the bandh.

Things which might get affected due to Karnataka bandh:

* Auto rickshaws and trucks have extended their support to the Karnataka band over Mahadayi river water dispute. Autos and trucks to stay off road today.  * Schools and colleges may remain closed. * The film industry and multiplexes are likely to stop operations today.

The Mahadayi (called Mandovi in Goa) originates in Karnataka and flows to Goa and Maharashtra. The three states are locked in a protracted dispute over sharing its water. The Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka has been accusing the BJP's state unit of not doing enough to help bring water to North Karnataka, one of the most parched regions in the country that is the epicentre of the agitation.​ Karnataka is seeking the release of 7.56 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft) of water for the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project. It is being undertaken to improve drinking water supply to the twin cities of Hubballi-Dharwad and districts of Belagavi and Gadag.

Yeddyurappa, who had promised he would get a written agreement signed by December 15 for resolving the issue between the two states, tried to convince the farmers to end their stir citing the letter written to him by Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar but failed. The protesters have accused Yeddyurappa of not keeping his promise, and called him a "betrayer".​ Parrikar, in a letter to Yeddyurappa on December 21, had said that in principle, Goa would not oppose the release of "reasonable and justified" quantum of water meant for drinking purposes to Karnataka. Parrikar's letter followed a meeting BJP chief Amit Shah had with the Goa chief minister and party leaders from Karnataka.

Senior police officials said elaborate security arrangements were made to prevent untoward incidents. Protests also echoed miles away in the state capital Bengaluru, where Mahadayi protagonists and the BJP have launched separate agitations. The protests caused inconvenience to office goers as these caused a traffic jam in the city's central business district. Groups of farmers, including women from north Karnataka districts, protesting near the BJP's state office since Saturday, staged a march to the Raj Bhavan and submitted a petition. They are demanding that BJP state chief B S Yeddyurappa resolve the issue as promised by him last month.

Pro-Kannada organisations, including the Kannada film industry, backed the bandh. Stray incidents of stone-pelting of trucks at Navalagunda, forced closure of shops and burning of tyres by the bandh supporters were reported from some places, officials said. A protest rally was held at Hubballi's Chennamma circle. Terming the bandh as a "warning bell" to the state and central governments, the samiti leaders had demanded a solution at the earliest, even as they hit out at political parties for playing politics on the issue.

Normal life was hit in five north Karnataka districts on Wednesday following a bandh called by farmer groups over getting Mahadayi river water from Goa to meet the drinking water needs of drought-prone areas of the region. Shops and establishments downed shutters, schools and colleges were closed and buses and other means of transport were off the roads in the districts of Gadag, Dharwad, Belagavi, Haveri and Bagalkot across the Malaprabha river basin and its neighbouring areas, officials told PTI.

The dawn-to-dusk bandh was called by 'Mahadayi Kalasa Banduri Nala Horata Samanvaya Samiti', an umbrella organisation spearheading the agitation on the issue.