Cauvery Dispute: MSME units remain shut today; say Cauvery is lifeline

Bengaluru, Sep 9 (KNN) The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Karnataka were shut today due to bandh call given by Pro-Kannada organisations and farmer unions today.

The MSME associations in the state supported the bandh by declaring a holiday for its worker. However they opine that the bandh would incur huge losses to the small units in the state.

“MSMEs have to suffer the losses due to bandh but we still support it as Cauvery is the lifeline of the state,” said Hanumanthe Gowda, Vice President of Karnataka Small Scale Industry Association (KASSIA).

A dawn-to-dusk Karnataka bandh called by pro-Kannada outfits on Friday to protest against the Supreme Court's direction to release Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu threw normal life out of gear in many parts of the state including Bengaluru.

According to latest reports, thousands have been stranded at the city's international airport.

The bandh has, especially, hit Bengaluru with the state government extending its tacit support to the protestors. 

KASSIA VP said “We cannot run the industry without water that is why we are supporting this bandh.”

He said “We have solidarity with our Cauvery basin farmers. It is very difficult to live without the water of Cauvery.”

BBMP employees have resolved to keep off work. Most private companies, including IT biggies+ like Infosys and Wipro, have announced they will remain shut. Bank services are also expected to take a hit. Petrol bunks, malls and hotels will remain shut

"The state government has resolved not to oppose the bandh. Schools and colleges will be closed and almost all government offices are likely to shut down as attendance is expected to be thin," Siddaramaiah told reporters. (KNN Bureau)