Drama on TN border, call for Karnataka bandh on April 12

The Tamil Nadu bandh over Cauvery water led to dramatic moments at the border points with buses taking U-turn, lorries stopping on the roadside and a bandh call by the Kannada Chaluvali Paksha leader, Vatal Nagaraj.

Protesting against Tamil Nadu's "tactics" to push the Centre to form the Cauvery Water Management Board, Vatal Nagaraj said pro-Kannada organisations will ensure Karnataka observes a bandh to fight for water.

The KSRTC cancelled 211 buses from morning till evening. Bus services resumed around 5.30 pm but the corporation suffered a loss of Rs 26.49 lakh.

South zone Motor Transport Welfare Association (SIMTA) general secretary, G R Shanmugappa said nearly 55,000 lorries, including 12,000 from Karnataka, did not operate on Thursday. "We expect a loss of Rs 150 crore to Rs 200 crore, which is a burden on transporters who pay a tax of Rs 3,000 per vehicle," he said.

Private bus operators said 1,200 buses bound for destinations in Karnataka were cancelled.

Police at the border stopped vehicles bearing Karnataka register numbers and sent them back. Hundreds of commuters had to get off at the border and walk to the Tamil Nadu side to catch vehicles stopped from entering Karnataka.