Bengaluru, August 10, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Several Kannada organisations have backed the call for a Karnataka bandh on August 13 over Tamil Nadu’s opposition to the Mekedatu drinking water project, even as differences have emerged among prominent groups over the proposed statewide shutdown.
Kannada organisations meeting in Mandya decided to support the bandh, while the Cauvery Hitarakshana Vedike is expected to hold a meeting before announcing its position.
Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj appealed to residents across Bengaluru to participate in the protest, arguing that the Mekedatu project was crucial for meeting the city’s future drinking water needs.
Addressing reporters in Bengaluru on Monday, Nagaraj said Tamil Nadu had opposed the project without, in his view, adequately explaining the reasons for its objection.
“We are launching a protest for the Mekedatu project. Tamil Nadu has launched a protest saying that the Mekedatu project should not be implemented. But they are not explaining what problems they would face because of the project,” he said.
Nagaraj warned that Bengaluru could face a serious drinking water shortage if the project does not go ahead.
“If the Mekedatu project is not implemented, there will be no water for Bengaluru. Where will you go then? For whom are we protesting? We are protesting for the people of Bengaluru,” he said.
Appealing to people from all linguistic and regional communities in Bengaluru to join the bandh, he noted that the city is home to large Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati and Marwari communities.
“There are lakhs of Tamil people living in Bengaluru, just as people from other states also live here. Won’t Tamilians living in Bengaluru drink water? Similarly, won’t Telugu, Gujarati and Marwari people drink water?” he asked.
Nagaraj said access to drinking water was more important than the size or appearance of one’s home and urged every household to participate in the August 13 protest.
The bandh campaign has already seen demonstrations in parts of Karnataka. Kannada activists reportedly blocked the Hosur Highway near Anekal on Monday while protesting Tamil Nadu’s position on Mekedatu. Police detained the protesters, following which Nagaraj staged a dharna.
However, support for the bandh is not unanimous.
Karnataka Rakshana Vedike president T.R. Narayana Gowda has said his organisation will instead stage a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Activist Sa. Ra. Govindu has also said he will not support the bandh, while KRV leader Praveen Kumar Shetty has decided against backing the call.
The Ola and Uber Cab Aggregators Owners and Drivers Association has also indicated that it is not inclined to support the shutdown.
The Cauvery Hitarakshana Vedike is yet to announce its decision.
The Mekedatu project has remained a major source of tension between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Karnataka maintains that the proposed reservoir is necessary to meet Bengaluru’s drinking water requirements, while Tamil Nadu has opposed the project over concerns involving the Cauvery river and downstream water availability.
With Kannada organisations divided over the proposed shutdown, the scale of participation in the August 13 Karnataka bandh is expected to become clearer in the days ahead.
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