The release of 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu each from Kabini and Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) reservoirs on the directions of the Supreme Court late on Saturday night has thrown normal life out of gear in the Cauvery basin as hundreds of people took to the streets on Sunday, demanding that the government stop the water discharge immediately.
Farmers, politicians and Kannada activists blocked the Bangalore-Mysore Highway by assembling bullock carts and cattle, burning tyres and cooking on the road. The Karnataka and Tamil Nadu state road transport corporations withdrew buses between Mysore and Bangalore and in rural areas.
However, a KSRTC spokesperson said: “Only disruptions and delays were witnessed on Sunday, and there were no cancellations. We will not cancel services on Monday.”
Train services were also disrupted in Srirangapatna and other places. The protestors burnt the effigy of PM Manmohan Singh.
Farmers started advancing towards KRS and Kabini reservoirs, and were arrested by police, who had summoned additional forces from other districts.
JD(S) leaders, however, gathered at the entrance of Brindavan Gardens and tried to barge into the reservoir stating that they would jump into the water on Saturday night. Police arrested MLA Puttaraju along with Kannada activist Madesh.
KRRS and Kannada activists were also arrested at Maddur, Mandya, Panadavapura, Nagamangala, Srirangapatna and Kadakola. Activists blocked the Mysore-Nanjangud Road, and a truck from Tamil Nadu was attacked on the Bangalore-Mysore Road in Bangalore.
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