Karnataka Bandh Over Cauvery Water Dispute; Services to Operate Normally

What Happened

Karnataka experienced a statewide bandh on August 13, 2026, called by various Kannada organizations and farmers. The protest was a response to an order from the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) that directed the state to release 12,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days, starting August 12.

Despite the bandh, the Bengaluru City Police announced that essential services, including schools, banks, hospitals, and public transportation, would continue to operate as usual. Police appealed to the public for calm and cooperation, emphasizing the right to peaceful protest while also ensuring normal daily activities are not obstructed.

Key Facts

• A 12-hour bandh was observed in Karnataka on August 13, 2026, from 6 am to 6 pm.
• The bandh was called in protest against the Cauvery Water Management Authority's (CWMA) order for Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu.
• This water release order was to be implemented for 15 days starting August 12, 2026.
• The CWMA's directive followed a decision by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC).
• Schools, banks, hospitals, and pharmacies were announced to operate normally during the bandh.
• Bengaluru City Police appealed for peace and cooperation, respecting the right to protest while ensuring public order.
• Some organizations informed the police that they were not supporting the bandh.
• Farmers staged demonstrations in Mandya, and various Kannada organizations supported the statewide bandh.

Background

The protests stem from the CWMA's decision regarding the allocation of Cauvery river water. The authority mandated Karnataka to release a specific quantity of water to Tamil Nadu, a decision that faced opposition from farmer groups and Kannada organizations within Karnataka.