Bangalore corporators join Cauvery stir

Joining the protest against release

of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, corporators of Bangalore,

which largely depends on the inter-state river for its

drinking water requirements, today took part in the ongoing

farmers' stir here. More than 100 Corporators of the Bruhat Bangalore

Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) reached here in buses under the

leadership of Mayor Venkatesha Murthy and participated in the

stir which entered the second week opposing release of Cauvery

water and also the recent directive of Cauvery River Authority

to the state. Murthy urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, also the

Chairman of the CRA, to withdraw his order directing release

of 9,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu till October 15. In view of the acute shortage of water and difficulty

faced in meeting the drinking water needs of people in Cauvery

basin districts, paticularly in Bangalore, water cannot be

released to the neighbouring state, he said. President of the Cauvery Hitarakshana Samithi G

Madegowda wanted the state government to file a petition

before the Supreme Court challenging the CRA decision. Meanwhile the Karnataka Bandh call given by various

Kannada protogonist organisations on October 6 got support

from the Kannada Film Chambers. Chamber President Chandrasekhar said the film industry

would shut its activites and support the bandh. Parts of Mandya district, hotbed of agitations over

Cauvery, continued to witness protests and an effigy of Tamil

Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was burnt here.