Tamil Nadu vows to block Mekedatu dam construction

Tamil Nadu Minister CTR Nirmal Kumar reiterated that the state will not allow the Mekedatu dam to be built, saying it will be stopped "at any cost." The minister said the government is pursuing all legal actions under the guidance of Chief Minister Joseph Vijay.

The opposition is based on the Supreme Court’s ruling that the proposed dam across the Cauvery River contravenes the court’s verdict. Tamil Nadu has filed petitions in the Supreme Court on Nov 30 2028 and Jun 7 2022, and a review petition was dismissed after in‑chamber consideration.

The dam forms a new flashpoint in the long‑standing Cauvery water dispute involving Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry, with the Tamil Nadu government seeking to protect farmers’ interests through legal channels.