Water Dispute

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.

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.

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.

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.

Jayalalithaa fasts on the Marina over Cauvery water

Seeking Cauvery water from Karnataka for the kuruvai crop, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa went on a fast of about 80 hours beside the MGR memorial.

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.

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.