Normal life in the country’s IT capital and several parts of Karnataka was crippled today as a 12-hour state-wide bandh called by pro-Kannada outfits to protest Tamil Nadu’s opposition to Mekedatu drinking water project across the river Cauvery began.

Bus, auto and taxi services were badly hit in Bengaluru, causing hardship to commuters, leaving thousands stranded at many places.

Initial reports said the bandh had evoked a good response in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Tumkuru, Mandya and several other places, where activists of pro-Kannada organisations staged protests.

In Bengaluru, commercial establishments remained closed as also the shopping malls in support of the bandh, which the organisers have claimed has the backing of about 600 to 700 Kannada organisations.

Auto drivers and truck operators and owners of petrol bunks, hotels, restaurants and the film industry are supporting the bandh.

The dawn-to-dusk bandh is a show of strength of the people of Karnataka against Tamil Nadu, Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha President Vatal Nagaraj, whose Kannada outfit is spearheading the protest, said.

Buses bound for Tamil Nadu from Bengaluru also did not operate, as also those proceeding to other parts within the State, officials said.

The Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, has said the government is not supporting the bandh but the State is determined to go ahead with the Mekedatu project and appealed to people to maintain peace.

Siddaramaiah in his budget speech, presented on March 13, had proposed preparing a detailed project report for the construction of balancing reservoir on the upstream of Mekedatu across Cauvery river in Ramanagara district.

He had said Global Expression of Interest had been invited, and Rs 25 crore had bee provided in the coming fiscal.

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