Mandya: Protests intensified across Mandya on Wednesday following Cauvery Water Management Authority’s (CWMA) direction to Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery water daily to Tamil Nadu even as Mandya MLA Ravikumar Ganiga of Congress said he would join the protest against the Shivakumar govt if water was released to Tamil Nadu.Farmers, Kannada organisations and activists staged demonstrations at several locations. At Cauvery Bhavan, farmers and activists gathered and hugged the statue in an ‘Appiko’ movement and raised slogans such as “Cauvery belongs to us” and appealed to govt not to release water to TN.This development comes amid Kabini dam releasing 10,000 cusecs of water, which is flowing to TN. Though a little over 11,500 cusecs of water was discharged from the dam located in HD Kote in Mysuru district, it was reduced to 10,000 cusecs on Wednesday morning. The dam is receiving 8,885 cusecs as of 8 am.Questioning the basis of the CWMA directive, Mandya MLA criticised the state’s BJP MPs for failing to effectively raise the issue. He also said the present increase in Cauvery flow was largely due to Kabini reservoir releasing floodwater and not a deliberate release.Protests were also held at Sanjay Circle, Maddur’s Koppa Circle and near Visvesvaraya statue. Members of District Farmers’ Protection Committee and Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha blocked roads on Old Bengaluru-Mysuru highway.Meanwhile, differences emerged among activists over Thursday’s Karnataka bandh. Activist Sa Ra Govind said his faction would not participate, stating that it planned future agitations over Mahadayi and Mekedatu projects. However, leader of Zilla Raitha Hitarakshana Samithi, which is spearheading the Cauvery agitation, Sunanda Jayaram maintained that the bandh would go ahead in Mandya. Ahead of the bandh, farmers and Kannada organisations visited shops, malls and hotels across Mandya city and appealed to traders to support the shutdown.Farmers in Mysuru laid siege to Cauvery Command Development Authority (CADA) office and asked govt not to release water to TN.Organisations in Mysuru are divided over supporting Thursday’s bandh while key stakeholders, including auto and cab unions and private schools decided against shutting down. “We will decide about withdrawing bus services based on the response to the bandh,” transport officials said.Santosh Kumar, district head of private schools, and D Shashi of Karnataka Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools (KAMS) said private schools will remain open on Thursday. Hotel Owners Association maintained that it will not support the bandh. However, many owners decided to trim the menu for Thursday to ensure that there will not be a huge loss if activists protest.BS Prashanth, president of Mysuru Travels Association, said the travel and tourism industry is against the bandh.Meanwhile, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha announced support for the bandh. According to the organisation’s state president Badagalapura Nagendra, farmers, who will be the real victims of the water release to TN will extend support for the bandh.The city police warned of stern action if anyone takes the law into their hands. In a press release, city police commissioner Seema Latkar said no form of protest has been permitted and warned protesters against forcibly shutting shops, commercial establishments, schools, colleges or offices.
