(file photo) Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar
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TH
Pro-Kannada organisations have called for a statewide bandh on August 13 to protest the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, adding new pressures on the state government even as it weighs its next move on the dispute.The bandh call comes after the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) upheld the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s (CWRC) directive asking Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water per day to Tamil Nadu for 15 days, rejecting Karnataka’s review petition seeking a reduction in quantum and more time. Tamil Nadu has said it will approach the Supreme Court to secure its share.“The state government must find a permanent solution to the Cauvery water problem. In this regard, let them start the Mekedatu project.” said BS Yediyurappa, Former CM, at the KRS protest in Srirangapatna today. The Mekedatu project refers to a proposed balancing reservoir and drinking water initiative by Karnataka across the Cauvery River to supply Bengaluru and generate power.Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has appealed against the bandh, stating that an agitation will not resolve the issue, and reiterated that the state had released the lowest amount of Cauvery water in the last 100 years this year, in contrast to over 400 TMC released last year against a mandated 177 TMC under the Cauvery tribunal’s award.Shivakumar has also postponed his planned August 3 meeting with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay on the issue, saying legal matters should be resolved before the two parties meet.Karnataka’s response is expected only after an all-party meeting on Sunday, which will bring together former chief ministers, MPs and legal experts to chart the state’s course of action amid mounting political and legal pressure from both sides.Published on July 31, 2026
