Prior to the year 1896, unfiltered water was being supplied to Bangalore in the
Karanjee system from a number of tanks viz., Dharmambudi, Sampangi, Ulsoor
etc, supplemented by local wells and Kalyanis or Stepped Ponds.

In the year 1894, the first protected water supply scheme “Chamarajendra Water Works” was started by Sir.K.Seshadri Iyer, the then Dewan of erstwhile Mysore province.
The source of water was Hesarghatta lake on Arkavathi River.

In the year 1925, Hesaraghatta lake started drying up and urgent remedial
measures were taken. Based on recommendations, by a Committee headed by
Sir M.Visweswaraiah, a reservoir was commissioned on river Arkavathi by building a
dam (Chamaraja Sagar) at TG Halli, downstream of Hesaraghatta lake.

During 1969, based on recommendations of an Expert Committee, Cauvery Water
Supply Scheme I Stage Project was started. The same was commissioned in
1974. Subsequently Stage II, Stage III and stage IV projects have also
been commissioned.

More details on the above are available through links in the following table: