Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, who also holds the water resources portfolio, said the state’s team of officials will convince the authority about the prevailing drought situation in the state.
Pro-Kannada and farmer organisations have called for a state-wide bandh on Friday to protest the September 26 order of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) to release 3,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu. A number of organisations, including those from the film industry, app-based cabs and transportation unions, and restaurants have declared their support to the bandh call.
Veteran Kannada activist and former MLA Vatal Nagaraj went around Bengaluru in an open vehicle appealing to the public to support the bandh. Opposition BJP and JD (S) have identified themselves with the protestors, actively participating in the dharna against the ruling Congress. “We will support the agitation for Cauvery waters as long as the issue remains,” said former CM Basavaraj Bommai.
Shivakumar said the government will not allow the bandh, but it will not come in the way of peaceful protests. The government will enforce the court orders against bandh, he said.