Bangalore: Former Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa is expected to take out a massive rally in Bangalore against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s directive to the state to release 9,000 cusecs of water daily from the Cauvery to Tamil Nadu. Karnataka has erupted in protests ever since the Supreme Court gave a directive to the state government to release water. Farmers groups said it will affect their irrigation facilities.

Tamil Nadu has been facing a severe shortage of irrigation water due to rainfall deficit. It had filed a plea with the apex court seeking a directive to the Karnataka government to release water from the Cauvery to the state.

Farmers in Karnataka, especially in Mandya, however, remain opposed to it. They have been blocking the Mysore-Bangalore highway since Sunday after the apex court passed the order. Over 50 people were arrested, while several trains connecting Bangalore with Mysore were hit.

On Wednesday, over 5,000 Karnataka activists and farmer groups laid siege to the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) Dam. The government enforced prohibitory orders in a 1 km radius around the dam. Rapid Action Force companies were also deployed. Farmers, however, continued to throng the venue in protest.