Tamil Nadu Revenue Minister E.R. Sengottaiyan on Monday, 27 July declared that Karnataka would not be permitted to advance the proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir, reaffirming the state government's uncompromising stand on defending Tamil Nadu's share of Cauvery waters. Speaking to reporters at Coimbatore Airport, the minister left no room for ambiguity: “Not even a single brick will be laid for the Mekedatu dam. Chief Minister Vijay will not allow it.”

Tamil Nadu's Stand on Mekedatu

The Mekedatu project, proposed by Karnataka on the Cauvery river near Bengaluru, has long been a flashpoint between the two states. Tamil Nadu argues that the reservoir would compromise downstream water flows and undermine its court-mandated share of the river's waters. Sengottaiyan's remarks signal that the Joseph Vijay-led government intends to sustain and sharpen that opposition, pursuing all available legal and constitutional avenues to block the project's clearance.

Metro Rail Push for Coimbatore and Madurai

On urban infrastructure, the minister said Chief Minister Joseph Vijay was actively working to bring metro rail connectivity to both Coimbatore and Madurai. The state government has already written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking the Union government's approval and financial support for the two projects. Sengottaiyan described the Chief Minister as committed to ensuring balanced development across Tamil Nadu, with both cities viewed as key growth centres requiring stronger public transport backbones.

NEET Opposition and Student Welfare

Sengottaiyan reiterated the state government's firm opposition to the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), stating that resistance to the examination reflected the broader sentiments of Tamil Nadu's people. He said Chief Minister Vijay had directly communicated to Prime Minister Modi that NEET was adversely affecting students in the state and had urged the Union government to reconsider the policy. The government, he added, would continue to pursue all constitutional and legal options to secure an exemption for Tamil Nadu students.

AIADMK MLA Disqualification Proceedings

On the disqualification proceedings involving four AIADMK MLAs, the minister confirmed that a representation had been submitted to the Speaker seeking a direct inquiry to be conducted in the presence of AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami. Sengottaiyan expressed confidence that the Speaker would take an appropriate decision after examining the matter thoroughly.

Budget Confidentiality and Governance Outlook

Asked about the forthcoming Tamil Nadu State Budget, Sengottaiyan declined to reveal any details, stating that its provisions would remain confidential until formally presented in the Assembly. He maintained that Chief Minister Vijay was delivering good governance and remained focused on accelerating infrastructure development across the state. The Budget's specifics, he said, would become clear once it was tabled before the legislature.