Water Supply

Ellis orders new wells during the Madras water shortage

During a severe drinking water shortage in Madras, Collector Francis Whyte Ellis had 27 wells dug, one bearing a Tamil inscription honouring Thiruvalluvar.

Red Hills (Puzhal) reservoir built for Madras

The Puzhal reservoir at Red Hills was built to supply water to Madras, and remains one of the city's main reservoirs.

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.

Mettur Dam completed

The Mettur Dam across the Cauvery was completed, creating the Stanley Reservoir and expanding irrigation in the delta.

S. Satyamurti becomes Mayor of Madras

Congress leader S. Satyamurti served as Mayor of Madras and pressed for the Poondi reservoir to improve the city's water supply.

Vaigai Dam inaugurated

Chief Minister K. Kamaraj inaugurated the Vaigai Dam, which supplies irrigation and drinking water to Madurai and the southern districts.

Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board given statutory status

Set up in 1969, the TWAD Board was made a statutory body in charge of water supply and sewerage everywhere outside Madras.

Siruvani drinking water agreement for Coimbatore

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

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.

Rainwater harvesting made mandatory for all buildings

After severe drought, a 2003 ordinance required every building in Tamil Nadu to install rainwater harvesting structures by 31 August.

New Veeranam water supply project completed

A project to pipe water from Veeranam Lake to Chennai, first conceived in 1967, was completed during a severe water shortage.

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.

Amma Kudineer bottled water

The state began selling one-litre bottles of drinking water for Rs. 10 at bus termini and on long-distance government buses.

Green tribunal hears challenge to the Theni neutrino observatory

Acting on a petition against the environmental clearance for the India-based Neutrino Observatory in Theni district, the National Green Tribunal issued notices.

Chennai water crisis

After a failed monsoon, Chennai's main reservoirs dried up, forcing heavy reliance on tankers and water brought by train from Jolarpet.

Vengaivayal drinking water tank contamination

Human faeces were found in an overhead water tank serving Dalit families in Vengaivayal village of Pudukkottai district.