Karnathan opposition protest over water and sanitation

On 23 July 2026 Karnataka opposition leader R Ashoka criticised the state government for severe sanitation shortfalls in Bengaluru, noting a single public toilet for 30,000 residents and that the majority of existing facilities were unusable. He linked this neglect to a worsening drought that had halted over 80 % of agricultural activity, demanding a formal drought declaration, compensation of ₹50,000 per acre for farmers, and the release of funds from the State Disaster Response Fund.

Five days later, on 28 July 2026, Ashoka broadened his criticism to water allocation at the national level. He accused the Congress‑led central government of releasing Cauvery river water to Tamil Tamil Nadu to appease party interests, leaving Karnataka reservoirs dry and restricting Bengaluru’s water supply to once every four days for five million residents. He called for an all‑party meeting, urged the launch of the Mekedatu project with ₹10,000 crore funding, and referenced the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s recommendation to release 3,500 cusecs per day to Tamil Tamil Nadu.