The Karnataka bandh called in protest against the directive to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu evoked a lukewarm response in Mysuru city on August 13, with shops and commercial establishments remaining open and schools and colleges functioning normally. KSRTC buses and autorickshaws also operated as usual.

Barring symbolic protests by pro-Kannada activists and moral support from sections of the trade and business community, normal life remained largely unaffected by the muted response to the shutdown call.

Hotels and restaurants remained open, and normal activity was witnessed across the city. Businesses on busy commercial hubs D. Devaraja Urs Road and Sayyaji Rao Road functioned without any disruption.

The bandh was called by certain groups to protest against the directive to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu at a time when Karnataka is reeling under drought-like conditions following poor rainfall.

As a precautionary measure, police personnel were deployed in sizeable numbers in the central business district to prevent any untoward incident.

Some pro-Kannada activists and members of the Cauvery Action Committee were taken into preventive custody when they attempted to block buses at the Sub-Urban Bus Stand. The activists had earlier staged a demonstration on Ashoka Road, demanding that Cauvery water should not be released to Tamil Nadu under any circumstance.

Farmers under the banner of State Sugarcane Growers’ Association, led by Bhagyaraj, marched on the streets carrying empty pots. Karnataka Kavalu Pade and other pro-Kannada groups staged a symbolic protest at Sri Jayachamarajendra Circle in protest against the directive to release water.

KSRTC Mysuru Rural Division Controller Veeresh said bus services were being operated normally despite the bandh. “All scheduled services are being operated, with passengers being ferried to their destinations without any disruption,” he said.

The bandh call did not evoke much response in Belagavi district in northwestern Karnataka.

Buses and private vehicles moved as usual. All schools and colleges, government and private offices were open. Shops, hotels and hospitals conducted their routine business.

The central committee of Kannada organisations had decided to express moral support to the bundh, but not to participate in it. They had complained that activist Vatal Nagaraj, who had agreed to include faster implementation of the Mahadayi river basin projects among the demands for the bandh, had failed to keep his promise.

Some Kannada groups, however, had announced they would participate. But in effect, there was no impact of the bandh.