Normal life in Bengaluru and several parts of Karnataka was crippled on Saturday as a 12-hour statewide bandh called by pro-Kannada outfits to protest Tamil Nadu’s opposition to Mekedatu drinking water project across the river Cauvery began.

Bus, auto and taxi services were badly hit in Bengaluru, leaving thousands stranded at many places.

Initial reports said the bandh had evoked a good response in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Tumkuru, Mandya and several other places, where activists of pro-Kannada organisations staged protests.

Commercial establishments and shopping malls remained closed in support of the bandh.

The state Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has requested to maintain peace during the bandh.

Auto drivers and truck operators and owners of petrol bunks, hotels, restaurants and the film industry are backing the bandh.

The dawn-to-dusk bandh is a show of strength of the people of Karnataka against Tamil Nadu, Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha President Vatal Nagaraj, whose Kannada outfit is spearheading the protest, said.

Buses bound for Tamil Nadu from Bengaluru also did not operate, as also those proceeding to other parts within the state, officials said.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said the government is not supporting the bandh but the state is determined to go ahead with the Mekedatu project and appealed to people to maintain peace.

Farmers’ bodies in Tamil Nadu had called for state band on 28th March over the issue to which several state political parties had expressed their support.

Tamil Nadu Assembly had also adopted a unanimous resolution urging Centre to rein in Karnataka from going ahead with its plan to build the dam across the inter-state river.

Police have beefed up security in the city, with the deployment of Karnataka State Reserve Police and City Armed Reserve, apart from the regular police personnel.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner M N Reddi said all precautionary measures had been taken and warned that no one will be allowed to violate law.