BANGALORE: The Karnataka Border Area Struggle Committee has called for a bandh on Thursday itself against the final award of the Cauvery River Water Disputes Tribunal even as other pro-Kannada organisations have called for a bandh on February 12.

Committee president B.K.R. Rao Baindur told The Hindu that the proposed bandh would be observed in the border districts and the places connecting such areas.

These include the districts of Belgaum, Haveri, Chitradurga, Kolar, Bellary, Gulbarga, Raichur and Chamarajanagar.

Protests would also be staged in Bangalore. However, steps would be taken to ensure that protests were held in a peaceful manner, he said.

The committee would also file a petition before the tribunal seeking justice to Karnataka, he said.

The Karnataka State PCO Owners and Dealers' Association has also joined the protest against the final award of the tribunal.

In a release, association president S.V. Rajendra said black flags were being hoisted on all telephone booths of the association while its members were wearing a black band to register their protest against the tribunal's final verdict.

Karnataka State unit of the DMK has made it clear that it would support the stand to be taken by the State's political parties under the leadership of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.

In a release, DMK State in-charge secretary T. Killivalavan said: "We will solidly rally behind the Chief Minister in his efforts to find a favourable solution to the problem."

T. Killivalavan pointed out that the welfare of Tamils in Karnataka depended upon the welfare of this State.

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