Kerala

Madras Railway reaches the west coast at Beypore

The Madras Railway completed its line to Beypore, linking Madras by rail with the west coast; a branch to Bangalore followed in 1864.

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.

Mullaperiyar Dam completed

The Periyar dam, built under John Pennycuick between 1887 and 1895, began diverting water east to the Madurai region of the Madras Presidency.

Vaikom Satyagraha

A satyagraha in Travancore demanded that people of oppressed castes be allowed to use the roads around the Vaikom temple; E. V. Ramasamy took part.

Travancore Temple Entry Proclamation

The Maharaja of Travancore opened state temples to all Hindus regardless of caste, including temples in present-day Kanyakumari district.

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.

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.

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.

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve established, India's first

India's first biosphere reserve was created from the Nilgiri hills and nearby forests, stretching across Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.

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.

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.

Western Ghats inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Western Ghats mountain range, which runs through western Tamil Nadu including the Nilgiris and Anamalai hills, became a World Heritage Site.

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.

Cyclone Ockhi strikes Kanyakumari

Cyclone Ockhi caused heavy damage in Kanyakumari district and many fishermen out at sea were lost.

Tamil Nadu launches Project Nilgiri Tahr

The state launched a conservation programme for its state animal, the Nilgiri tahr, covering grassland restoration, radio-collaring and monitoring.

Joint Action Committee on fair delimitation meets in Chennai

Chief Ministers and leaders from several states met in Chennai at Stalin's call to oppose delimitation based only on population.