Cauvery crisis brings IT city to a halt

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah seeks PM Modi's intervention to end impasse

Bengaluru, a city know as a hub of information technology companies that serve the world 24x7, came to a virtual halt on Friday as Karnataka was shut on the call of pro-farmer groups, protesting the recent Supreme Court order to release water from the Cauvery river to neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

Technology companies such as Infosys, Wipro, IBM and HCL Technologies joined the bandh on the request of Electronic City Industries Association, to show solidarity with the farmers in the state.

From start-ups such as Flipkart and InMobi to taxi-hailing apps Ola and Uber, corporate Bengaluru observed a holiday.

Many employees of large companies were asked to work from homes to ensure that their global clients didn’t suffer.

Transport services were hit with government buses staying off the roads, while auto-rickshaw and cab unions extended their support to the bandh.

Complying with the apex court’s order, the Karnataka government has been releasing 15,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu since Tuesday, triggering a wave of protests, particularly in the Cauvery basin districts with Mandya being epicentre of the stir.

On Friday, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to call a meeting of chief ministers of the two states to end the impasse. "I earnestly request you not only as Prime Minister, but as head of the entire Federal system, to call a meeting of the chief ministers of the states (forthwith on a few hours notice) to resolve the impasse," Siddaramaiah wrote to the PM. He said the daily release of 15,000 cusecs of Cauvery water "would completely deprive the drinking water not only to the residents of Bangalore City but also to farmers of Cauvery basin."

While officially all companies expressed solidarity with the protesters, some industry leaders questioned the logic of shutting down the state for a decades-old water sharing dispute between two states. Some even pointed out that Friday's was fourth such bandh in as many months in Karnataka. Earlier, the state had seen bandhs due to Karnataka's loss in the Mahadayi dispute and the all nationwide strike called by labour unions.

"People are not going to work because of fear and this is not what democracy stands for. We all are concerned about the situation. However, there should be discussions and better way to protest," said T V Mohandas Pai, chairman of Aarin Ventures. According to Pai, business worth Rs 10,000 crore suffered on Friday.

Tallam R Dwarakanath, former president of Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FKCCI), said because of frequent bandhs, the state not only loses on revenue but also its reputation among investors, while industry suffers business because of the uncertain environment. "Three days back, we announced Invest Karnataka (a forum to woo global investors). At such a time, these bandhs show the state in bad light. We must immediately seek a permanent solution. In certain areas of the state, the work has been suffering for 15 days now. This needs to stop," said Dwarakanath.

Bengaluru alone contributes over a third of India's software exports of $108 billion. Software exports account for 61.8 per cent of Karnataka's total exports of Rs 313,570 crore.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, chairperson of Biocon, was forced to delete her posts on Twitter where she had said that frequent bandhs were affecting productivity in the state. She later tweeted, "We are observing Bandh in solidarity with people and farmers of Karnataka who are facing water challenges. Hope two states resolve dispute amicably."