Tamil Nadu buses stopped at Karnataka border amid Mekedatu protests
Tamil Nadu government buses have temporarily stopped operating into Karnataka following protests by Kannada organisations demanding progress on the proposed Mekedatu dam project across the Cauvery river.
The demonstrations, organised by Kannada Jagruthi Vedike and Kannada Rakshana Vedike on July 26, prompted the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) to suspend services beyond Hosur. Buses heading towards Bengaluru are currently terminating at Hosur until further orders.
Officials said the move was taken as a precautionary measure to avoid any law-and-order issues. Security personnel have also been deployed along the interstate border.
While TNSTC services have been curtailed, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses and private operators continue to run services into Tamil Nadu. Additional local buses have been arranged to help passengers complete their journeys.
The protests are linked to the long-running dispute over Karnataka’s proposed ₹9,000-crore Mekedatu balancing reservoir project. Karnataka maintains the project is intended to improve Bengaluru’s drinking water supply and generate hydroelectric power, while Tamil Nadu argues that it could reduce its share of Cauvery river water.