Chennai: Interstate bus services have finally resumed and life on the Tami Nadu-Karnataka border has started to return to normalcy after five days of protests over Cauvery water.

Tensions ran high between the two states with Karnataka coming to a grinding halt on Friday, due to a day-long Bandh called for by more than 500 local organisations. Even MNCs extended their support to the protests. Stones were pelted at buses and vehicles bearing Tamil Nadu registration.

The Cauvery Supervisory Committee, headed by Union Water Resources Secretary Shashi Shekhar, will meet tomorrow in New Delhi in the national capital to decide on the quantum of water to be released to Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry. Tamil Nadu has asked for more water.

The Supreme Court had ordered Tamil Nadu to proportionately share the 15,000 cusecs of Cauvery water with Puducherry. The bench gave Tamil Nadu three days’ time to approach the Committee with its claim of 35 tmcft of water from Cauvery. Karnataka was also instructed to respond to Tamil Nadu’s plea within three days.

The Supreme Court will hear the matter again on September 16, along with the reports from the Cauvery Supervisory Committee.