Mettur Dam, one of the largest dams on the Kaveri river, is situated in which Indian state?

Introduction / Context:
Mettur Dam is a major multipurpose dam on the Kaveri river and is important for irrigation, power generation and water supply in southern India. Dams on the Kaveri are often asked about in examinations because of their role in inter state river disputes and regional development. This question checks whether students can correctly identify the state in which Mettur Dam is located, showing their grasp of river geography and key water projects.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The dam mentioned is Mettur Dam. - It is built across the Kaveri river. - The options include Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu and Karnataka. - Only one of these states actually hosts Mettur Dam.

Concept / Approach:
The Kaveri river flows through Karnataka and Tamilnadu before reaching the Bay of Bengal. Mettur Dam, also known as Mettur Reservoir or Stanley Reservoir, is located at Mettur in Salem district of Tamilnadu. It is a key component of irrigation for the Cauvery delta in that state. The approach is to remember that although Karnataka also has important dams on the Kaveri, the famous Mettur Dam is specifically in Tamilnadu near the border with Karnataka.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be carried out by looking at river and dam maps in an atlas or geography textbook. These maps clearly place Mettur Dam on the Kaveri within the boundaries of Tamilnadu. Textbook discussions of the Cauvery water dispute also mention Mettur as the main reservoir in Tamilnadu that depends on releases upstream. This confirms that Tamilnadu is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Telangana s major dams are on the Godavari and Krishna systems and are located much farther north. Andhra Pradesh also focuses on dams on the Krishna and Godavari in relation to its irrigation projects. Karnataka does have an important dam on the Kaveri, but it is Krishnaraja Sagar Dam near Mysuru, not Mettur Dam, which lies downstream in Tamilnadu. None of the above is incorrect because Tamilnadu matches both the name Mettur and the location on the Kaveri river.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse Mettur Dam with other Kaveri related dams and may incorrectly choose Karnataka because they know that Kaveri originates there. Another pitfall is to guess Andhra Pradesh simply because it is a southern coastal state with many dams. To avoid such errors, learners should memorise a small list of major dams on each river along with the states where they are located, for example Krishnaraja Sagar in Karnataka and Mettur in Tamilnadu for the Kaveri.

Final Answer:
Mettur Dam on the Kaveri river is situated in the state of Tamilnadu.