The Govt. of Tamil Nadu has asked the Transport Department staff (read: drivers and conductors) who have been on leave to return to work today in view of the strike and total shutdown to be held today by the DMK and its allied parties across the State.

DMK had earlier called for a ‘total shutdown’ today (Thursday) to protest against the BJP-led Centre’s reluctance in setting up a Cauvery Management Board to supervise the water-sharing arrangement between the States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry.

Most trade unions in the Transport Department affiliated to the DMK had already announced their decision to join the strike which would mean that majority of buses in Chennai and elsewhere may remain off the road today.  The ‘shutdown’ commenced at 06:00 a.m. this morning and would last for 12 hours till 06:00 in the evening.

Initial reports say only skeletal bus services were witnessed in Chennai and elsewhere, putting commuters and general public to huge trouble.  It is in this backdrop that the Govt. has cracked the whip by asking those Transport staff who have been on leave to return to work today to salvage the situation, failing which they might face disciplinary action against them.

Petrol pumps in Chennai and elsewhere are likely to remain open today as they are not part of today’s protest, it is reported.