Cauvery water dispute: Security tightened, prayers offered in Mandya ahead of SC hearing

The Supreme Court, on 20 September, will hear the plea on directions to both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to take preventive measures in the Cauvery water dispute. Meanwhile, Section 144 has been imposed in Mandya's Sanjay circle ahead of the apex court's order.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara has issued guidelines to the police directing them to take precautionary measures. He has also directed the police to be prepared with fire engines and required emergency forces at sensitive areas around Cauvery belt including Bengaluru.

Also Read: Release 3,000 cusecs of water for 10 days: Cauvery Supervisory Committee tells Karnataka

The police has also been directed to flag march around sensitive areas and an appeal has been made to pro-Kannada activists and farmers' associations to maintain peace. The Supreme Court had earlier on 5 September asked the Karnataka Government to release 15,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu on a daily basis for the following 10 days. However, protests intensified in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu post the apex court's order.