Karnataka to shut down today

Karnataka is bracing for a state-wide shutdown on Monday with political parties and Kannada organisations calling for a general strike to protest the Cauvery River Water Disputes Tribunal's final decision.

The decision, announced last week, has increased Tamil Nadu's share from 205 tmcft (according to the 1991 interim order) to 419 tmcft.

Karnataka's share is pegged at 270 tmcft while Kerala and Puducherry have been awarded 30 tmcft and 7 tmcft, respectively. There has been widespread protest against the award, which is being termed as "one-sided".

The protests have already intensified in the Cauvery basin including Bangalore, Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Mandya, Hassan, Tumkur and Kodagu.

Monday's strike is expected to affect the daily routine, particularly in Bangalore, as autorickshaws and private taxi services, have declared support for the agitation. The strike, originally scheduled for February 7, was postponed on account of Aero India 2007 in Bangalore.

The police have already deployed additional forces in the Cauvery basin districts. Security has been beefed up in Bangalore to prevent any untoward incident. A majority of the IT firms, including global corporations, have declared a holiday on Monday.

Commercial establishments, cinema halls and malls will also remain closed. However, emergency services like hospitals have been spared from the strike.

The government has declared a holiday for schools and colleges as a precautionary measure. Though the state government employees have extended support to the strike, offices will remain open.

The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will take a decision on operating buses depending on the situation. Meanwhile, the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike and Cauvery Hitarakshana Horata Samiti, which called for the strike, threatened to disrupt train and air services.

The government, which has opposed the award, is consulting legal experts, to file a review petition in the court.