Water from Kaveri river has been a bone of contention between the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and its erstwhile Kingdom of Mysore and Madras Presidency and thus a century old dispute. As part of several reconciliation measures taken to ease the crisis the Union Water Resource Ministry of Government of India convened a meeting between the representatives of the states in which Governments of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu agreed on two projects, one in Mekedatu in Karnataka and other in Hogenakkal in Tamil Nadu. According to the project, at a particular spot in the waterfall water from the Cauvery is to be drawn and distributed to people of Tamil Nadu. Karnataka agreed to abide by the conditions imposed by the Union Water Resources Ministry if Tamil Nadu withdrew its objections to Cauvery water being used to augment supply to Bangalore for which Tamil Nadu had voiced objections but Tamil Nadu later withdrew its objections to Karnataka using its share of Cauvery water for supply to Bangalore. The project was put on hold after widespread protests in Karnataka.
Hogenakkal island (unnamed) ownership dispute
Hogenakkal is part of Koothapadipanchayat village within the Pennagaram sub-district of Dharmapuri district., but the ownership of a piece of an uninhabited island near the waterfalls is contested by Karnataka and this further strains the relationship between the states.
Karnataka perspective
Karnataka is opposed to the project on the grounds that its share of the Kaveri waters will be affected and that the picturesque waterfall belongs to it, thereby alleging that the drinking water project at Hogenakkal is illegal.
Tamil Nadu perspective
The Hogenakkal project was approved in 1998 by Union government of India. The project just like the Bangalore project an extra demand on the neighbouring state for Cauvery water since each state would use its share.
Timeline
May 1997 – States of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu agree on two projects to be set for both power and irrigation, with one in Mekedatu in Karnataka and other in Hogenakkal in Tamil Nadu.
27 March 2008 – the Tamil Nadu Assembly adopted a resolution, urging the Centre to extend "full cooperation and help" in executing the project.
31 March 2008 – Karnataka state government requested Tamil Nadu to stop all development projects at Hogenakkal. It sought Central Government's intervention to resolve the controversy.
2 April 2008 – Widespread protests across Karnataka against the project.
5 April 2008 – Chief Minister Karunanidhi announced that the project would be put on hold until a new government assumes charge in Karnataka.
17 June 2008 – unit office of the Hogenakkal water supply project was opened at Oddapatti near Dharmapuri.
