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BENGALURU: The state capital is likely to come to a standstill on Saturday with autorickshaw and cab unions, government and BBMP staff associations, among others, pledging support to the Karnataka bandh called by pro-Kannada activists to protest the Mahadayi river tribunal rejecting the state's plea for water.
The 6am-to-6pm bandh is likely to affect the movement of private vehicles, too, as petrol bunk owners' association has announced it will take part in the bandh. People arriving in the city by bus, train and air are likely to be the worst affected as autorickshaws and cabs aren't plying.
Government bus services which remained off the roads for three days earlier this week will, however, operate. However, spokesmen for various transport utilities said they will suspend operations if the situation goes out of control. Namma Metro will operate. Citizen services at BBMP and other government offices will be affected with employee associations deciding not to work.
Essential items like milk and healthcare will be available. The KMF said it's normal business as both vendors and the federation feel that a lot of people's lives will be impacted if it take parts in the bandh. "We deal with essential services. Though we support the protest, we will work. Some of the chemists' shops in North Karnataka may have to close down. In other parts of the state, including Bengaluru, a majority of the shops will remain open," Bengaluru District Druggists and Chemists' Association president Raghunath Reddy said.
Bengaluru Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes' Association President Dr Nagendra Swamy said the association supports the state on the Mahadayi issue. "Health is an essential service, and we cannot deny it to people. Doctors will work with black badges as a symbol of protest," he said. Government hospitals will function as usual.
However, people might find it difficult to access these services with transportation being affected badly.
Most schools are likely to remain closed on Saturday given their five-day week schedule, although a final decision will be made in the morning. The ICSE Schools' Association has said there will be no schools, while the CBSE schools will decide individually, depending on the situation in the morning.
SSLC board schools, the administration has said, will remain open, but individual schools have permission to close studying the day. "The government has not declared a holiday, but schools can take a call," said Bengaluru Urban deputy commissioner V Shankar.
Most malls, too, said they will remain closed till dusk. Theaters will remain shut as the film industry apex body, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, has backed the bandh call.
Russell Market and the City Market vegetable shops will remain open, but associations at both places said they may have to review their decision based on the situation.
"Farmers will arrive with fresh fruits and vegetables in the morning and we cannot say 'no' to them. But we will remain open till 1pm depending on the situation," Choudhury Mohammed Idrees, secretary of Russell Market Traders' Association, said. The market caters to shoppers from Coles Road, Fraser Town, Vasanthnagar and Shivajinagar.
"We are supporting the strike, but there are more than 2,000 farmers who bring their supplies in the morning. Thus, we will be open from midnight till 9am and shut our shops after that," said RV Gopi, president, Vegetable Merchants' Association. There are 400 shops at the Kalasipalyam vegetable market.
"We are also supporting the Mahadayi cause, we will stay away from the courts," HC Shivaramu , president , Advocates' Association of Bangalore, said.
WHAT'S ON
* Hospitals, chemists
* Milk, vegetables and fruits
* Metro
WHAT'S OFF
* Autorickshaws
* Cabs, taxis
* Most schools
* Malls, theatres
* Govt, BBMP offices
Emergency helplines
Some hospitals have set up helplines for emergency. Vasavi Hospital: 080-71500500; People Tree Hospitals: 080-49599999; Meenakshi Hospital: 72595-12345
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