Traffic at the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border in Attibele could come to a standstill on Monday, as Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj has called for the road to be closed at 11 am. The move comes ahead of the statewide bandh he has called for August 13 over the Cauvery water crisis.
According to a report by The Hindu, Vatal said Kannada activists would stop vehicles coming from Tamil Nadu into Karnataka and prevent Karnataka vehicles from crossing into Tamil Nadu. The proposed blockade is being positioned as a warning to Tamil Nadu ahead of the bandh.
Speaking to reporters during a demonstration in Mysuru on August 8, Vatal said activists would gather at the inter-state border at Attibele and shut the crossing. He has been demanding action on several issues concerning Karnataka, including the Mekedatu, Mahadayi and Kalasa-Bandhuri projects.
The veteran Kannada activist has continued with his August 13 bandh call despite Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar appealing to him to withdraw it. Vatal said more than 2,000 pro-Kannada organisations had already extended their support to the bandh and claimed that the number could cross 3,000 by August 13.
He has also appealed to hotel owners in Bengaluru and Mysuru to keep their establishments closed for a day in support of the bandh.
The proposed border closure comes amid a political dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over the Cauvery river and other water-related issues. Vatal also linked the proposed action to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's reported visit to Karnataka.
Vatal said Vijay would be welcome in Karnataka if he announced his support for the construction of the Mekedatu balancing reservoir. If he did not, Vatal threatened to prevent the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister from entering the state.
“If not, we will close the airport and not allow him to land in Karnataka,” Vatal said.
The Mekedatu project, proposed across the Cauvery river in Karnataka, has been strongly opposed by Tamil Nadu, which has raised concerns over its potential impact on the state's share of Cauvery water.