Bandh to hit normal life across state today

The statewide bandh called by several pro-Kannada organisations on Thursday demanding a solution to the Mahadayi river water dispute is likely to affect normal life.

The bandh, coinciding with BJP president Amit Shah's rally in Mysuru, is also backed by the ruling Congress.

All schools and colleges in Bengaluru will remain closed on Thursday, as ordered by Deputy Commissioner of Bengaluru (Urban) district V Shankar.

However, the state government has directed deputy commissioners to take a call on declaring a holiday to educational institutions in their respective districts.

On Tuesday, the Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka declared a holiday on Thursday.

The Managements of Independent CBSE School Association (MICSA) has also decided that its member schools will remain closed on Thursday.

IT majors Infosys and Wipro have also declared a holiday.

The Department of Pre-University Education (DPUE) has instructed deputy directors that if they decide to postpone the second PU practical exam scheduled for January 25, they are to bring it to the notice of the deputy commissioner.

If the exam is postponed, it will be held on February 21.

Visvesvaraya Technological University as rescheduled the postgraduate theory examination to February 5. The timings will remain unchanged.

The police have also made elaborate security arrangements in Dharwad and Koppal, the nerve centre of the Mahadayi agitation.

Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Kamal Panth told DH that 170 KSRP battalions, 220 City Armed Reserve platoons and 63,000 police personnel were asked to be on the ground from early morning till late in the evening.

At least 120 people have been taken into preventive custody across the state, Panth said.

The Kannada film industry, too, has extended support and decided to close all theatres across Karnataka.

Even multiplexes will remain closed across the state. All malls in the city will remain shut up to 6 pm.

Government offices in Bengaluru and across the state may see a thin attendance as the bandh is backed by Karnataka Government Employees Association.

The state-run transport corporations said that they are going to continue their services as long as law and order problems do not arise.

Public Relations Officer U A Vasanth Rao said metro operations will continue as usual. "Any decision otherwise will be made depending on the situation tomorrow (Thursday)," he said.

"Since petrol bunks come under ESMA, it is mandatory to provide services to members of the public...Dealers across the state have been advised to take a call depending on the situation," said vice president of Karnataka State Federation of Petroleum Dealers Sanaulla Anees.

Public sector lender Vijaya Bank has confirmed that they would be functioning tomorrow, but in case of a problem, the MD would take a call.