Inter State

Periyar lease agreement with Travancore

A 999-year lease for the Periyar irrigation works, signed by Travancore and the Secretary of State for India, later underpinned the Mullaperiyar dispute.

Madras and Mysore sign the 1892 Cauvery agreement

After an 1890 conference, the Madras Presidency and Mysore signed an agreement on the use of the Cauvery's waters.

Cauvery arbitration award on the Kannambadi dam

Arbitration under the 1892 agreement let Mysore build a Kannambadi dam smaller than it had planned; an appeal by Madras led to the 1924 agreement.

Potti Sriramulu dies fasting for Andhra State

Potti Sriramulu died in Madras after a long fast demanding a separate Telugu-speaking state, prompting the creation of Andhra State.

Andhra State carved out of Madras State

The Telugu-speaking northern districts were separated from Madras State to form Andhra State, with Madras city remaining in Madras State.

Travancore Tamil agitation for merger with Madras

Tamils in southern Travancore-Cochin campaigned under Marshal Nesamony for the merger of Tamil-majority taluks with Madras State.

States Reorganisation redraws Madras State

Malabar and South Canara left Madras State while Kanyakumari district and Shenkottai taluk were added, leaving a Tamil-majority state.

Tiruttani transferred from Andhra Pradesh to Madras State

Under the Andhra Pradesh and Madras (Alteration of Boundaries) Act, Tiruttani and nearby areas joined Madras State.

Aliyar Dam of the Parambikulam-Aliyar Project inaugurated

Prime Minister Nehru inaugurated the Aliyar Dam, part of the inter-state Parambikulam-Aliyar irrigation project.

Mullaperiyar lease agreement renewed with Kerala

The 1886 Periyar lease was renewed by Tamil Nadu and Kerala in 1970, with a higher rent and a new charge on power produced from the water.

Siruvani drinking water agreement for Coimbatore

Tamil Nadu and Kerala agreed that the Siruvani dam in Kerala would supply drinking water to Coimbatore.

Expiry of the 1924 Kaveri agreement

The 50-year Madras-Mysore agreement of 1924 on Kaveri waters expired, opening a long inter-state dispute with Karnataka.

Krishna water supply (Telugu Ganga) project agreed for Madras

Tamil Nadu and the Krishna basin states agreed on a scheme to carry Krishna river water to Madras city, later built as the Telugu Ganga project.

Mullaperiyar dam safety dispute begins

Kerala's safety fears about Mullaperiyar dam after the 1979 Morvi disaster led Tamil Nadu to cut its storage level to 136 feet and reinforce the structure.

Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal constituted

On a Supreme Court direction, the Union government set up a tribunal to adjudicate the Kaveri water dispute between Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry.

Cauvery tribunal issues interim award

The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal directed Karnataka to release 205 TMC ft of water a year to Tamil Nadu.

Anti-Tamil violence in Karnataka over Cauvery award

Mobs attacked Tamils in Bangalore, Mysore and other parts of southern Karnataka after the Cauvery interim award was gazetted.

Palar landmine blast by Veerappan's gang

A landmine attack by the sandalwood smuggler Veerappan near Palar killed 22 members of a police and forest team from Tamil Nadu.

Cauvery River Authority set up

The Union government set up the Cauvery River Authority, chaired by the Prime Minister with the chief ministers of the basin states, to implement the interim award.

Veerappan kidnaps actor Rajkumar

Forest brigand Veerappan abducted Kannada film star Rajkumar from Gajanur in Erode district and held him for 108 days.

Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve established

A biosphere reserve was created at the southern tip of the Western Ghats, spanning Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts and southern Kerala.

Veerappan killed in Operation Cocoon

The forest brigand Veerappan was killed by the Tamil Nadu Special Task Force near Dharmapuri, ending a decades-long manhunt.

Supreme Court allows higher Mullaperiyar level; Kerala passes dam law

The Supreme Court allowed Tamil Nadu to raise the Mullaperiyar dam's level to 142 feet; Kerala responded with a law capping it at 136 feet.

Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal final award

The Cauvery tribunal issued its final award allocating river water among Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry.

Hogenakkal Integrated Drinking Water Project

A Cauvery-based drinking water scheme for Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts was begun in 2008 amid objections from Karnataka and launched in 2013.

Supreme Court verdict on Mullaperiyar dam

The Supreme Court allowed Tamil Nadu to raise the Mullaperiyar reservoir level to 142 feet and struck down Kerala's law restricting it.

Supreme Court final verdict on Cauvery waters

The Supreme Court reduced Tamil Nadu's share of Cauvery water slightly and ordered a scheme for implementation, leading to the Cauvery Water Management Authority.

Cauvery Water Management Authority constituted

Following the Supreme Court's final Cauvery verdict, the Union government created the Cauvery Water Management Authority.