Two states, two centuries: The ancient Cauvery dispute is unending

 

1803       An irigation project was initiated by Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar of Mysuru, but this project met with an opposition from the Madras Presidency.

1892       An agreement was signed between Mysuru and Madras, stating that the Mysuru Province should take permission from the Madras Presidency before starting any new                   project on the Cauvery River.

1911       Madras objects to the laying of the foundation stone for the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) dam.

1924       An agreement is signed for the construction of the KRS Dam in Karnataka, under the condition that Mysuru grant permission for the Mettur Dam in Tamil Nadu.

1931       KRS Dam construction completed.

1972       The Union government of independent India forms the Cauvery Fact Finding Committee (CFFC), which submits a report.

1973       The CFF Committee report is rejected by Tamil Nadu.

1990       The Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal is formed on the direction of the Supreme Court.

1991       The interim report from the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal asks Karnataka to release 205 TMC water to Tamil Nadu.

1991       The then chief minister of Karnataka, S Bangarappa, issues ordinance to release water.

1995       An order is given to release 11 TMC water to Tamil Nadu during droughts in Karnataka. Large scale protests are held.

•  A meeting is held under the chairmanship of the then prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.
• The decision is taken to release 6 TMC water to Tamil Nadu.

1997       The new Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal is formed.

2002       The Supreme Court orders Karnataka to release 1.25 TMC water (daily) to Tamil Nadu till the tribunal submits its report.

• Karnataka once again sees large protests, as the state was facing a drought.
• After a meeting, Karnataka decides to release 9,000 cusecs of water.

2002       Guruswamy, a member of the Beechanahalli Gram Panchayat in Mysuru, jumps into the Kabini River, committing suicide.

2007       The Tribunal gives a final verdict, which orders 419 TMC water to be released to Tamil Nadu, leaving Karnataka with 270 TMC water.

•  After a further consideration, the Tribunal directs the release of 192 TMC water to Tamil Nadu

 

Since that 'final verdict', every year the Tribunal decides how much water should be released to

 

Tamil Nadu, depending on various factors in both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. And every year, nearly without fail, protests break out in Karnataka when the order comes in. This year is no different.

 

There seems to be no long term solution at all.