What happened?

The driver was driving along the national highway near Tiruttani when suddenly smoke rose from the engine bay of the lorry, which eventually erupted into flames.

A strong wind caused the fire to spread to the rest of the vehicle and the cargo compartment at the back.

What did the driver do?

As soon as he realised the flames were spreading, he immediately stopped the vehicle on the side of the road.

The driver understood that if the fire spread to the other parts, the entire vehicle would be completely destroyed, and the danger would be greater if the fire spread to the rear end of the vehicle, where the cargo was loaded.

He acted bravely and detached the cabin and engine section from the cargo section at the rear.

By doing so, he saved cargo worth several lakhs of rupees and a large part of the vehicle from being completely destroyed by the fire.

Driver lauded by the public and officials

The fire department rushed to the scene after receiving information and extinguished the fire in the engine compartment, preventing it from spreading further.

The driver’s actions were praised by the public and officials for his ability to not panic and act tactfully in a critical moment, preventing a major accident without any loss of life.

Police investigation

The police have registered a case regarding the fire and launched a probe to investigate whether the accident was caused by the truck’s electrical system.

Water release from KRS and Kabini dams

The KRS Dam, situated across the River Cauvery near Kannambadi in Srirangapatna taluk of Mandya district, had a water level of 108.95 feet as of 8 pm on Friday. The dam has a maximum capacity of 124.80 feet.

Water was flowing into the KRS Dam at 1,551 cusecs, while 2,000 cusecs was being released from the dam into the River Cauvery.

Meanwhile, the Kabini Dam, located across the Kapila River near Beechanahalli village in H D Kote taluk of Mysuru district, has also been releasing water to Tamil Nadu.

As of 8 am on Friday, the water level in the Kabini Dam stood at 2,275.56 feet against its maximum elevation capacity of 2,284 feet. The water level was 2,282 feet on August 13.

Following an order from the Cauvery Water Management Authority to release water to Tamil Nadu, water was continuously released from the Kabini Dam for nine days, from August 13 to Friday. During this period, around 4.95 TMC of water was released into the River Cauvery for Tamil Nadu from the dam.

Kabini water level drops by 7 feet

The continuous release has resulted in the water level in the Kabini Dam falling by around 7 feet over the last nine days. The dam has a total storage capacity of 19.52 TMC and held around 14.57 TMC of water as of Friday.

At 8 am on Friday, the inflow into the Kabini Dam stood at 7,184 cusecs, while 12,940 cusecs was being released into the River Cauvery.

Together, the KRS and Kabini dams were releasing a total of 14,940 cusecs of water into the River Cauvery for Tamil Nadu.

Hogenakkal inflow reaches 12,000 cusecs

Meanwhile, officials from the Central Water Commission are closely monitoring the water flow in the River Cauvery at Biligundlu, located along the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border.

The increased inflow has also prompted the Dharmapuri district administration to continue the ban on coracle operations at Hogenakkal as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of tourists.

The water inflow at Hogenakkal was recorded at 10,000 cusecs at 6 am on Saturday. The inflow subsequently increased to 12,000 cusecs, according to the report.

With the River Cauvery witnessing increased inflow, authorities continue to monitor the situation at Hogenakkal and other points along the river, while restrictions on coracle operations remain in place for the safety of visitors.

The temple received a total of Rs 1,05,54,389 in cash, 293 grams of gold, and 7,153 grams of silver through the shrine’s donation boxes. The Aadi Krithigai and float festival were the primary drivers, an official said.

The unprecedented rise in collections is attributed to a heavy influx of thousands of pilgrims arriving from various districts across Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states.

The footfall spiked dramatically due to the auspicious Aadi Krithigai festival - a revered annual event dedicated to Lord Murugan and the Theppa Thiruvizha (float festival). The festival is observed when the Krithika star aligns with the Tamil month of Aadi (mid-July to mid-August).

According to Hindu tradition, the day honours the divine origin of Lord Murugan, who was nurtured by the six Krithika maidens upon his birth.

Devotees believe that worshipping at hill shrines like Tiruttani during this period amplifies spiritual benefits, drawing vast crowds seeking blessings for courage and prosperity.

Located around 93 km from Chennai in Tiruvallur district, the Tiruttani temple serves as a major pilgrimage destination in the state, frequently visited by pilgrims travelling towards Tirupati. This ancient temple is the 5th abode of Lord Muruga.

The counting process was carried out under strict supervision by officials from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, temple administrators, and security staff.

Following official protocols, the cash was sorted, inventoried, and deposited directly into the temple's official bank account, while the gold and silver items were weighed and logged into secure vaults.

High-footfall attracting temples across Tamil Nadu routinely schedule such frequent counts after major festivals to manage capacity and maintain financial transparency.

During Zero Hour, the issue was raised by AIADMK member CVe Shanmugam, who demanded proper maintenance of the statue of Jayalalithaa located at the Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education on Kamarajar Salai.

Replying to him, Higher Education Minister P Viswanathan said the demand was an important one and assured that the government would always accord due importance to former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.

CWC member and Union Jal Shakti Ministry additional secretary Yogesh Paithankar visited Mettur dam on Friday (August 21) evening and inspected the reservoir from the Diamond Jubilee Tower on the right bank.

He later held discussions with Water Resources Department officials and enquired about the dam's water level, inflow and discharge. He also sought details on the dam's height, water storage and safety.

Paithankar then left for Biligundulu on the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border.

He is reportedly scheduled to visit the proposed Mekedatu dam site in Karnataka on Saturday morning. However, Public Works Department officials declined to confirm details of the proposed visit.

The visit comes after the Southern States Chief Ministers' Conference and Southern Zonal Council meeting held at Kovalam near Mahabalipuram, where the Cauvery water-sharing issue, the proposed Mekedatu dam and other inter-state issues involving Tamil Nadu and Karnataka were discussed.

Paithankar was accompanied by Mettur dam Executive Engineer Venkatajalapathy, Assistant Executive Engineer Selvaraj and Assistant Engineer Satheesh Kumar.

He said Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay was unlikely to participate in the consecration.

"No decision has been taken regarding that so far. But it is unlikely, as there are other events scheduled around that time. Also, in a place where crowds are already heavy, the CM’s visit will further increase the crowd," he said.

The minister for Energy Resources, Electricity, and Law was addressing a press conference here after an inter-departmental review meeting.

The meeting, which brought together officials from the district administration, city corporation, police department, electricity board and the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department, focused on crowd management, security measures and basic civic amenities.

According to the minister, current plans envisage allowing 8,000 to 10,000 people onto the temple terrace during the rituals, while detailed zoning of surrounding streets and exit routes is being finalised.

To streamline entry, holographic entry passes with QR codes will be issued to devotees, and the full schedule will be made public within a week, he added.

"Arrangements are being made to provide temporary toilets, drinking water facilities and extensive CCTV surveillance. Parking arrangements to accommodate at least 8,000 vehicles are also being made," he said, adding that multiple LED screens would be put up at key public locations for devotees unable to enter the main complex.

Structural stability audits of surrounding residential buildings are also being undertaken to ensure people do not gather on rooftops.

A designated section for around 200 to 300 dignitaries, including High Court judges, district collectors and temple administrators, will be accommodated alongside other permitted visitors.

According to a Maalaimalar report, the murder allegedly took place at Guduvanchery, where the woman had been staying with the couple.

How was the woman’s dismembered body found in a suitcase?

On August 5, police in Agra recovered a red suitcase from the Tamil Nadu Express that had travelled from Chennai Central. On opening it, they found the dismembered body parts of a woman. The woman was later identified as Hayath Nisha, a native of Odisha.

How did CCTV footage lead police to Guduvanchery?

Police examined CCTV footage from Chennai Central and identified a man and a woman carrying the suitcase and placing it on the Tamil Nadu Express. Further footage showed the couple leaving the railway station and proceeding towards Park railway station, from where they travelled by suburban train to Guduvanchery.

Who was the woman found murdered in Guduvanchery?

After reaching Guduvanchery, the couple were traced to a house on Masjid Street. Police, after showing their photographs and videos to residents in the area, identified them as an Odisha couple. Investigators also found that Hayath Nisha had been staying with them at the same house.

Hayath Nisha, from Odisha, had separated from her husband and was living with the young couple. Her 19-year-old son works as an AC mechanic in Tambaram.

What did police find inside the Guduvanchery house?

Police who searched the house found portions of Hayath Nisha's body inside a large vessel used for preparing biryani. The remains had reportedly been covered with maida flour, while vegetables were also found in the vessel. Bloodstains were also found inside the house.

Police are searching for the couple, who are suspected to have fled after the murder. Police said finding the couple would help establish where the woman's head was disposed of.

A police team led by Assistant Commissioner Sekar Babu has intensified the search for the suspects.

Further investigations are underway.

The resolutions were adopted at the executive committee meeting held at the party headquarters, Anna Arivalayam at Chennai.

Under the new structure, one party district will be formed for every two Assembly constituencies based on revenue districts. If a single constituency remains after the reorganisation, it will be attached as a third constituency to a suitable party district within the same revenue district.

The maximum age for district secretaries has been fixed at 70 years, with a maximum of two terms. The post of city secretary will be abolished.

At the grassroots level, the maximum age for branch secretaries has been fixed at 45 years, with a two-term limit. Ward secretaries in corporations, municipalities and town panchayats will have a maximum age of 50 years and can serve for two terms.

The maximum age for area, town and union-level secretaries has been fixed at 60 years, also with a two-term limit.

The party has decided to strengthen its branch-level structure in Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchy, Salem and, depending on local requirements, other corporations.

The resolutions provide for an average of 10,000 voters per ward in Chennai and 5,000 voters in other corporations. Area committees will comprise an average of 40,000 voters in Chennai and 30,000 in other corporations, while town committees will have an average of 40,000 voters. One union committee will be formed for every average of 30,000 voters.

Once the party president announces the 110 districts, district executive committee meetings will be held and the union, town, area and ward-level units will be reorganised within 15 days as per the guidelines issued by the party headquarters.

A second district executive committee meeting will subsequently be held in the presence of a representative deputed by the headquarters to approve the restructured units before the details are sent to the party headquarters.

The issue came up during a heated exchange in the Legislative Assembly on Friday over the live broadcast of House proceedings and the continued circulation of remarks removed from the official records, according to a Daily Thanthi report.

Udhayanidhi flags circulation of expunged remarks

Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin said the Speaker was conducting the proceedings effectively and giving members opportunities to raise questions. However, he alleged that ministers and ruling party members were being given more opportunities to speak.

Speaker JCD Prabhakar said the time allotted to members was based on the numerical strength of their respective parties. Udhayanidhi said he was not objecting to the allocation of time but pointed out that ministers and ruling party members often made allegations while responding to questions. He said some of these remarks were subsequently expunged from the official records.

He also highlighted the issue of live broadcasting, saying that remarks later removed from the records had already been broadcast and could continue to circulate through edited videos on YouTube and other social media platforms. Udhayanidhi said this made the process of expunging remarks ineffective, as the statements could continue to be viewed and shared online even after being removed from the official records. Referring to the manner in which some ministers and members responded in the House, he remarked that the proceedings at times appeared like a “Super Singer” show.

Ministers question delay in live broadcast

Responding to the Opposition, Minister Aadhav Arjuna questioned why the previous government had not introduced live broadcasting of Assembly proceedings during its tenure. Minister Anand also referred to the popularity of the live proceedings, saying people were now able to watch the Assembly directly rather than depending only on television programmes.

Udhayanidhi, meanwhile, maintained that the DMK government was the first to introduce live broadcasting of the Question Hour in the Legislative Assembly. He said the present system of broadcasting the entire proceedings had taken the initiative further but stressed that the concern was about the circulation of remarks that had been expunged from the official records.

JCD warns against sharing expunged remarks

Speaker JCD Prabhakar said remarks made without evidence could be expunged from the official records as per convention. He said a letter had been submitted on behalf of the DMK seeking action through the Committee of Privileges over the publication of remarks that had been removed from the House records.

The Speaker asked members to provide details of media outlets carrying such remarks, stating that the matter could be taken up by the Committee of Privileges. Minister Rajmohan said the live broadcast was intended to allow the public to see what was happening inside the Assembly. He also claimed that the live broadcast had been initiated during the DMK regime under MK Stalin.

Udhayanidhi reiterated that the Opposition was not against the live broadcast but was concerned about what happened to remarks after they were expunged. He pointed out that such statements could continue to trend on social media after being broadcast during the proceedings. The Speaker said it was a convention to remove statements made without evidence from the official records. However, he noted that such remarks were later being taken from the proceedings and published by various media platforms.

Action warned against Reels

Speaking to reporters after attending an event in Chennai, JCD Prabhakar reiterated his warning that action would be taken if expunged remarks were released as reels or other short videos on social media.

He said using remarks removed from the Assembly records in any form undermined the dignity of the House and amounted to a violation of the rules.The Speaker added that letters seeking action for breach of privilege had been submitted to him and were under consideration.JCD Prabhakar said action would be taken against the circulation of expunged remarks as reels, while urging members to make statements backed by evidence and maintain the dignity of the Legislative Assembly.

Shanmugam went on to fight for the party's stance and bat for chief Edappadi Palaniswami, with whom he has been waging battles. He said the AIADMK government under Palaniswami had resisted pressure to implement the quota and stood by Tamil Nadu's 69 per cent reservation policy. "We firmly stood by the 69 per cent reservation and refused to implement the 10 per cent EWS quota. We still oppose it. Thalavai Sundaram's demand is not the AIADMK's stance," Shanmugam said.

The exchange assumes significance as Shanmugam, who has been openly critical of AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami in recent weeks, asserted that Sundaram's demand was a personal view, not the party's position. Shanmugam has repeatedly questioned Palaniswami's leadership and sought accountability for the party's electoral setbacks.

Participating in the debate on the Law department's grant demands, Sundaram urged the government to implement the Supreme Court's verdict on the EWS quota, saying it would benefit a large section of people in Kanniyakumari. "At least, the government should consider providing a five per cent EWS quota for economically weaker sections," he said.

Shanmugam said, "I hope this was his own opinion and demand. The AIADMK does not agree with this. The party strongly opposes the 10 per cent EWS quota."

Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Tagore welcomed Chief Minister Vijay's announcement that the government would provide cars to all MLAs. He said it should also be extended to panchayat presidents, who are elected representatives working at the grassroots level. "Such a move would help to eradicate the corruption at the grassroots level," Tagore said.

Tagore also said that the Union government provides loans to MPs without cars to purchase vehicles, and suggested that similar consideration could be given to panchayat presidents, if giving them cars outright doesn't work out.

On the INDIA bloc, Tagore said the Congress had planned to organise town hall programmes in every major city in the State to demonstrate that the alliance remained intact.

He said the exit of three parties from the INDIA bloc in Tamil Nadu would not make any difference, as 23 parties continued to be part of the alliance across the country.

Taking a swipe at the DMK, Tagore said ideology could not be changed, but some parties had repeatedly changed their stance on delimitation.

Police said Loganathan (49) from Chamundipuram had approached the Anna Cooperative Housing Society at Ganga Nagar to obtain a loan of Rs 22 lakh by mortgaging his house.

The society’s secretary, Jothimani (52), demanded Rs 60,000 as a bribe and, after negotiation, agreed to reduce it by Rs 5,000. Police said Loganathan paid Rs 10,000 as the initial amount. After the loan was credited to his bank account, Jothimani, however, demanded the remaining amount.

Acting on a tip, the DVAC sleuths laid a trap and directed the complainant to give Rs 45,000 in cash laced with chemicals. On the instructions of Jothimani, Thirunavukkarasu (64), a broker and office assistant, Dakshan (21) took Loganathan to a tea shop and received the money.

A DVAC team then caught the duo, who confessed to having received the money on the directions of Jothimani. The police registered a case and arrested the trio. Further investigation is under way.

CPM MP Su Venkatesan condemned the notice to the Joint Director, saying the government should instead seek an explanation from the Chief Secretary on how such a sensitive circular was issued without the Chief Minister’s approval.

Sindhiya Selvi has been asked to explain within a week why the August 17 communication was issued without obtaining prior permission from the Commissioner.

The notice questioned her authority to issue such a sensitive communication without the Commissioner’s knowledge and approval.

The Joint Director had instructed principals to keep a watch on students and ensure that they did not participate in the proposed protest. The circular triggered protests by SFI and AISF and criticism from Left parties, following which the communication was withdrawn on August 19.

The controversy deepened after official records showed that the circular was based on a directive issued at a law-and-order meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary on July 27.

A Higher Education Department communication had directed departments and district administrations to work together to prevent students and youth from participating in protests.

The man who consumed poison was identified as Ramesh Kumar (32), son of Subramanian of Kavalkinaru. His condition is stable, and he is undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College Hospital, Nagercoil.

Head Constable Sivakumar and Constable Veldurai found Ramesh Kumar under the influence of alcohol during a vehicle check and brought him to the police station for examination.

A police source said that Ramesh Kumar reportedly informed the Judicial Magistrate that he consumed the poison following a love failure

While the two policemen went inside the station to fetch the breathalyser, Ramesh Kumar allegedly took around 10 ml of pesticide from his bag and consumed it. The police immediately rushed him to the Kudankulam Government Hospital and later shifted him to the Government Medical College Hospital for further treatment.

A police source said that the two personnel were suspended for failing to check Ramesh Kumar when he was brought to the station, and pointed out that at least one police personnel should have remained with him.

The source further said that Ramesh Kumar reportedly informed the Judicial Magistrate that he consumed the poison following a love failure.

The police will take further action based on the report submitted by the Judicial Magistrate.

A 23-year-old man from the Kottar area of Nagercoil, pursuing an MSc, stated that he has been working part-time for more than a year at the hospital and a senior colleague has been forcing him to engage in a same-sex relationship. The senior had sexually harassed the survivor on the bus, sent obscene messages and issued threats too.

Following the incident, it is also reported that the private company concerned suspended the employee facing the allegations.

Replying to the debate on the demands for grants for his department, Energy Resources Minister R Nirmalkumar said single-phase domestic connections that did not require extension or improvement works would be sanctioned based on self-declaration, without a field inspection.

The new procedure is intended to facilitate quicker processing of applications for new household connections. The Minister said 50,000 new agricultural electricity connections would be provided during 2026-27.

On strengthening the workforce, he announced that 2,558 vacancies would be filled through the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission. In addition, 10,000 workers, including 5,000 skilled and 5,000 unskilled personnel, would be engaged on a contract basis for five years.

The department would also introduce an e-Mandate facility through eNACH for Low Tension consumers, enabling electricity bill payments to be made automatically from their bank accounts.

To improve consumer grievance redressal, a WhatsApp chatbot would be introduced to enable consumers to register complaints and track their status. The chatbot would be integrated with the Consumer Complaint Management System.

For employees, online counselling for transfers and promotions would be introduced through an in-house application integrated with the Human Resource Management System, the Minister said.

The government would also introduce a Compressed Bio-Gas policy for Tamil Nadu, aimed at reducing waste, creating employment opportunities and promoting the production of renewable energy.

The analysis shows that 183 of the 226 MLAs, or 80.9%, have access to a car within their immediate family, while 43 have no car declared either in their own name or in the name of their spouse or dependants.

The figures are significant as the government has proposed a monthly vehicle support package for all legislators, ostensibly to enable them to undertake constituency visits, attend to public grievances and monitor government schemes and projects.

Under the proposal announced by the Chief Minister in the Assembly, the government will provide Rs 75,000 per month towards a driver’s salary, fuel, and maintenance, and Rs 25,000 for an assistant. The total monthly support works out to Rs 1 lakh per MLA.

The affidavit data shows that 163 MLAs have cars in their own names. But the number rises to 183 when cars declared by spouses and dependants are included. This means 19 legislators who do not own a car themselves have a car registered in the name of a spouse or dependent.

The ruling TVK has 81 of its 107 MLAs, or nearly 76%, with a car declared either by the legislator or a family member. Thirty MLAs have no cars in their own names, but the broader family-ownership figure suggests that some of these legislators have access to vehicles within their households.

The DMK has one of the highest levels of family car ownership. Fifty-one of its 59 MLAs, or 86.4%, have a car declared either in their own name or that of a spouse or dependent. Forty-six DMK legislators themselves own cars.

Among the AIADMK’s 41 MLAs, 36 have a car in the family, while 27 have cars in their own names. The Congress has the highest possible proportion among the larger parties, with all five of its MLAs having a car declared by themselves or a family member.

The data also show that family ownership is not confined to the major parties. Both IUML MLAs have a family car, and three of the four PMK MLAs do as well. One of each among the two VCK, CPI and CPM MLAs has a family car.

Interestingly, the affidavit analysis also shows that several former chief ministers and ministers of the AIADMK and DMK have declared that neither they nor their family members own a car.

Former AIADMK chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, along with former ministers SP Velumani and Agri SS Krishnamurthi, has not declared a car either in their own names or those of their family members.

TVK MLA Prabhu has declared seven cars, while TVK MLA Kanimozhi Santhosh has also declared seven. AIADMK MLA Leemarose Martin has declared nine cars

Similarly, senior DMK leaders and former ministers, including MRK Pannerselvam, KKSSR Ramachandran, R S Rajakannappan, and PK Sekar Babu, have declared that no cars are in their names or those of their family members.

The Chief Minister announced the vehicle package in the Assembly as part of measures to provide logistical support to legislators for constituency visits, grievance redressal and monitoring government schemes and projects. What the government has proposed is clearly seen in conflict with the ground realities. The announcement was made after TVK member claimed in the Assembly that he comes to the House by an auto, demanding government’s support. On the same day the said MLA was questioned by media personnel on owning a car worth more than Rs 1 crore, but claiming otherwise inside the Assembly. The MLA left the place without answering media’s questions.

Under the proposal, the government will provide Rs 75,000 per month towards the driver’s salary, fuel, and maintenance, as well as Rs 25,000 for an assistant. The total support would therefore be Rs 1 lakh per MLA every month. PWD Minister Aadhav Arjuna clarified that it is up to the MLAs to claim by filling out the form.

The political response has reflected the divide in the affidavit data. DMK and CPI have opposed the blanket proposal, while TVK and PMK have favoured providing the facility to legislators without cars.

Meanwhile, the ruling TVK and ally PMK backed the move for legislators who do not own vehicles.

Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin said the DMK decided against taking the facility, pointing to the Chief Minister’s earlier admission that the state faced severe financial constraints.

“Considering this, our 59 DMK MLAs do not need cars. The government should provide them only to legislators from economically weaker sections based on their election affidavits,” Udhayanidhi said.

Countering him, Public Works and Highways Minister Aadhav Arjuna said TVK MLAs who already owned vehicles would not apply for the government scheme. He defended the proposal as part of the standard protocol extended to lawmakers.

“A car is not a luxury, but a necessity for MLAs to travel and meet voters in their constituencies. It is essential for legislators who are free from corruption,” Aadhav said, assuring the Assembly that ruling party members with personal cars would opt out.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition KN Nehru noted that Udhayanidhi, holding the rank of a Cabinet Minister as LOP, was required to use the official residence. “If there is anything wrong in any election affidavit, you can file a case against it,” Nehru added.

Aadhav alleged that Udhayanidhi’s objection was politically motivated. “We cannot travel in a Range Rover that wasn’t declared in an affidavit reporting a balance of Rs 10,000,” he charged, in a veiled swipe at former CM and DMK chief MK Stalin.

Intervening in the debate, PMK MLA A Ganeshkumar pointed out that two of his party’s MLAs were from economically weaker backgrounds, suggesting that vehicles be given strictly to those in need. Udhayanidhi reiterated that the DMK was not politicising the issue and supported providing cars to needy MLAs.

Outside the House, the CPM and BJP also demanded the withdrawal of the proposal. In Salem, CPM state secretary P Shanmugam suggested vehicle loans instead.

BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan questioned spending public money on those who already owned cars, asking the government to exercise fiscal responsibility.

The high-yield, vitamin-rich varieties with a unique aroma were distributed to as many as 126 farmers from Tamil Nadu and other major banana-growing states.

In the foundation day and Kisan mela events held at ICAR-NRCB in Tiruchy, the Director of the institution, R Selvarajan, said that the institute has played a remarkable role in the growth of banana production, recording an increase of 38.32 million tonnes per year over the previous production of 11 million tonnes. The banana has been positioned as one of the most important fruit crops in the country with a remarkable export position, he noted.

He stated that the centre has developed eight climate-resilient banana varieties over the years through sustained and focused research efforts. “During the Pongal season, we released Kaveri Poovan banana, a high-yielding variety resilient to banana streak disease and Fusarium wilt. The Kaveri and more than 1 lakh tissue culture plants of the variety were produced and supplied to the farmers through the State Variety Release Committee," he said.

“Kaveri Thangam is rich in provitamin A, which requires only five fruits to meet the recommended dietary allowance of Vitamin A for an adult, while Kaveri Nadan is an updated variety of the Pacha Nadan type and the variety delivers nearly double the yield," Selvarajan said.

“Both the new varieties have already been distributed to as many as 126 farmers across the country, particularly in Tamil Nadu and other major banana-producing states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka," the Director said.

Meanwhile, Selvarajan said that an NRCB–APEDA team had inspected facilities in Jalgaon for exporting bananas to Russia, while opportunities will also be explored to export bananas from Tamil Nadu to Russia through Cochin Port.

In a major development in mechanisation, the centre has been in the process of developing a central-core stem juice extraction machine, similar to a sugarcane juice extraction machine. This technology could create entrepreneurial opportunities for self-help groups and street vendors by enabling them to extract and sell banana stem juice, Selvarajan added.

Tamil Nadu has 418 engineering colleges, with Anna University approving 2,53,806 seats for admission this year. Of these, 1,95,513 seats are to be filled through the Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA) counselling process. A total of 2,36,017 students had applied for engineering admissions this year.

The tentative allotment results for the third round of BE and BTech counselling were released on Friday. Of the 1,02,719 eligible candidates, 68,640 students received tentative seat allotments. This included 66,159 allotments under the academic stream and 2,481 allotments to government school students under the 7.5% quota.

As many as 24 colleges have recorded zero admissions, while another 64 colleges have admitted fewer than 10 students

Students who have received tentative allotments must confirm their seats through the online confirmation option by 5 pm on Saturday. TNEA authorities have said that failure to confirm the allotted seat within the deadline could result in cancellation of the allotment.

The third round covered candidates with cut-off marks ranging from 135.50 to 77.50, including general category students and eligible government school students under the 7.5% quota.

The large number of vacant seats has raised concerns over admissions in several engineering colleges. As many as 24 colleges have recorded zero admissions, while another 64 colleges have admitted fewer than 10 students.

Meanwhile, registration for supplementary counselling has begun. Students who cleared Class 12 through supplementary examinations, as well as those who missed the regular counselling process, can apply until August 31. The supplementary round is expected to provide another opportunity for students to secure engineering seats.

Traders said that TVK functionaries have been approaching them for the past 10 days, asking them to remove their roadside shops and goods before the programme. They said they have been told that cleaning, painting and beautification works would be carried out on Saturday, followed by the Minister’s visit on Sunday.

“Take it away, take it away and go.” This is what traders were repeatedly told, according to T S Jamal, a vendor in the area. The affected stretch, according to traders, runs from the NSC Bose Road Flower Market police station through Sowcarpet and up to the end of the commercial area, covering streets including Kasi Chettiar Lane, Perumal Mudali Street, Narayana Mudali Street, Devaraja Mudali Street, Nainiappa Naicken Street and Govindappa Naicken Street.

Sreekumar, treasurer of the Federation of Chennai City Small Traders Association, said that traders had offered to cooperate with the cleanliness work rather than shut their shops. “We told them that if there is garbage, we traders will pick it up ourselves. If you want to put up banners, put them in front of the shops. We’ll not object. We asked them to cooperate with us,” he said.

Instead, traders stated that the pressure to clear the shops continued. According to Sreekumar, around 20 people approached the traders’ association on Friday and asked the members to comply with the demand. “We’re not opposed to the cleanliness drive itself. Out objection is to being asked to give up our businesses on a weekend to facilitate it,” Jamal added. “Saturday and Sunday are the business days when people come to our shope to purchase goods.”

CPI (M) Central Chennai district secretary G Selva condemned the act saying, “A political party should not be using its event to put pressure on vendors who have been doing business in the area.” He also questioned the description of Sowcarpet in the event invitation as ‘Little North India’, particularly as the invitation has been circulated only in Hindi and English.

The terminal has been developed on a 10.20 acre parcel and has around 41 bus bays and 46,339 sq ft of retail space. The O-M concession covers the 5.52-acre terminal, not the depot.

The private concessionaire will have rights to revenue from the terminal's bus entry fees, retail space, advertising, parking and cloak room. It will also pay CMDA an annual concession fee, with the tender fixing Rs 10 lakh a year as the reserve price.

The tender proposes Rs 15 entry fee per bus/day, including GST. The CMDA estimates that around 1,050 buses will enter the terminal every day, including TNSTC, MTC, local and private buses. For other revenue sources, the concessionaire can determine rates for retail space, advertising and four-wheeler parking based on prevailing market rates. CMDA will retain control over bus entry fees, two-wheeler parking and cloak-room charges.

The operator will be responsible for the terminal’s day-to-day upkeep with a minimum of 70-person workforce. The commercial component includes 32 shops, besides a government canteen, supermarket, restaurant and cloak room.

The terminal also has additional retail space and about 29,170 sq ft of office space on the first floor. Parking has been provided for 368 two wheelers and 63 four wheelers. The private operator has pricing freedom for four-wheeler parking, but not for two-wheeler parking.

Speaking to the DT Next, Superintendent engineer Balamurugan said that the works and inauguration had been stalled due to the elections. “The final leg of work is happening and we can expect the terminus to be opened in two months,” he said.

Chengalpattu currently has both old and new bus stands, located in the heart of the town, leading to severe traffic congestion that has affected the district for nearly 50 years. Once operational, the new suburban bus terminus is expected to significantly reduce it.

Authorities have also planning to operate direct bus services from the facility to destinations including Tirupati, Bengaluru, Puducherry, Chittoor, Vellore, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Villupuram, Tindivanam, Mamallapuram, Kalpakkam, Tambaram, Kilambakkam and various parts of Chennai.

The tender for TMTM has become a political flashpoint after Joyalukkas emerged as the lowest bidder, reportedly quoting just one paisa towards making charges and wastage, as well as hallmarking, packing, insurance and transportation, excluding the prevailing gold price. Other bidders reportedly quoted additional charges ranging from Rs 410.97 to Rs 15,356.27.

The AIADMK questioned the unusually low quote and asked whether the government had sought a matching offer from Titan, in which the State is a major shareholder.

DMK MLA PH Manoj Pandian questioned the decision to entrust gold procurement to the TNMSC, which primarily handles medicines, medical equipment and other healthcare supplies.

Health Minister KG Arunraj defended the move. "TNMSC has been procuring baby kits given to mothers who deliver at government hospitals. The sole aim is to increase the number of deliveries in government hospitals. The TMTM scheme will also help increase deliveries in government hospitals," Arunraj said.

He said the gold would be procured through the TNMSC in accordance with existing norms and that the government would consult all stakeholders, including officials and experts, before taking a final decision. "There will be no irregularities in the procurement and distribution of gold rings. The government will ensure transparency," he said.

The scheme was a key promise in the TVK's election manifesto and envisages providing a one-gram gold ring to babies born to permanent residents of Tamil Nadu at government hospitals and health centres.

The TNMSC floated a tender in July for 4,41,667 one-gram, 22-carat gold rings, with 916 hallmarking mandatory. The government has earmarked Rs 755.83 crore annually for the scheme, which is scheduled to be launched by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on September 15, the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister CN Annadurai. Children born at government hospitals from June 22, 2026, are eligible.

In a statement, Veerapandian said the amendment would give the Centre greater control over states' tax, cess and other revenue powers from mineral resources, weakening their financial autonomy and constitutional rights.

He said the move came despite the Supreme Court's 2024 judgment upholding states' taxing powers over mineral rights. The Centre's attempt to override these powers was a deliberate effort to centralise control over natural resources, he alleged.

The amendment would have a major impact on mineral-rich Tamil Nadu by curbing its policy-making powers and revenue from natural resources, he said.

Veerapandian also warned that the legislation could threaten the land, livelihoods and traditional rights of tribal and forest-dependent communities by prioritising mining projects over the community and individual forest rights guaranteed under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.

Mineral resources were public assets and should be used for public welfare, environmental protection and social justice, not corporate profits, he said.

The Tamil Nadu government should strongly oppose the amendment and press the Centre to withdraw it immediately, Veerapandian said.

On August 10, a police team headed by Thanjavur West Inspector Shanmugam (45) conducted a vehicle check at Ammapettai. On suspicion, they intercepted two persons who were identified as Arumugam (45) and Murugan (48), both from Ammapettai.

The police found that they were smuggling 83 kgs of banned gutka. Subsequently, Inspector Shanmugam, along with policemen Gowthaman (35) and Alagarsamy (37), secured the duo, seized the gutka stock and took them to the police station.

After reaching the police station, Shanmugam failed to register a case and released Arumugam and Murugan along with the gutka bundles. After being informed, SP E Sundaravathanam ordered a departmental inquiry in which the complaint was proved.

On August 11, the Thanjavur West police registered a case and arrested the duo. Meanwhile, the inspector was placed on the ‘waiting list’ from August 13.

On Friday, based on the recommendation of the SP, the DIG (Thanjavur Range) Ziaul Haque suspended Shanmugam and the policemen Gowthaman and Alagarsamy.

The camp, intended to provide care and rejuvenation for elephants belonging to temples and mutts, will be conducted with an allocation of Rs 3 crore from the government, the HR&CE Minister S Ramesh announced in the Assembly.

The minister also announced that the department will constitute a Temple Employees Recruitment Board to fill vacancies in temples and educational institutions it runs, bringing recruitment under a dedicated mechanism to ensure transparency and select eligible candidates through direct appointments.

Replying to the debate over demands for grants for the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, the minister said the board would conduct recruitment in accordance with the prescribed rules and ensure that eligible candidates are selected through a transparent process. The move is among a series of measures announced by the department to strengthen temple administration and improve the welfare of its employees.

The government has also proposed improving service benefits for temple employees. The maximum encashment of earned leave at retirement will be increased from 210 to 240 days, while maternity leave will be extended from nine to 12 months. Marriage assistance will also be enhanced substantially, with eligible senior temple employees receiving Rs 2 lakh and other temple employees Rs 1 lakh.

Children of temple employees will receive priority for admission to temple-run colleges, along with a 50 per cent concession on tuition fees, according to the announcements.

Alongside administrative measures, the government plans to expand its cultural and religious outreach.

Special worship and a public feast will be held annually at major temples on July 15, the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister K Kamaraj.

Special Alwar and Siddhar festivals will be organised to promote Tamil and Vaishnavite traditions and commemorate the contributions of Siddhars to philosophy, medicine, yoga, science and spirituality. Annual village deity art festivals will also be held in every mandal, featuring folk arts, traditional performances and plays.

'Arulalar' festivals will honour Appar and Pattinathar through lectures and cultural programmes, further broadening the department's focus beyond temple administration to the preservation and promotion of Tamil spiritual heritage.

The incident is the second suspected tiger attack death reported in the area this month. According to the Forest Department, Ravichandran, a resident of Larston No. 4 area under O’ Valley Town Panchayat, was working in his coffee plantation, about 20 metres from his house, when he was attacked.

When he failed to return home for lunch, his family members went looking for him. They were shocked to find a tiger feeding on his body amid the coffee plants. The animal fled after villagers gathered at the spot.

Forest Department personnel later arrived and attempted to recover the body for post-mortem. However, villagers staged a protest, insisting that the tiger be captured before the body was removed. They also accused the forest department of failing to prevent the second fatal attack in the area.

The incident comes barely a fortnight after another farmer, Balakrishnan, was killed and his body partially consumed by a suspected tiger in the same O’ Valley locality on August 8. Officials held talks with the protesters, who continued their agitation until night.

Meanwhile, a veterinary team led by Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) veterinarian K Rajesh Kumar, along with Forest Department personnel armed with tranquilliser guns, launched a search for the tiger. Three cages were also installed in the locality to trap the animal and enhance monitoring efforts.

On Thursday (August 20), while a 16-year-old ITI student from Ammandivilai was waiting at the Anna Bus stop, two juveniles a 16-year-old from Idalakkudi and a 17-year-old from Kottar approached him and picked a quarrel with him.

They suddenly attempted to attack him with sickles. The college student escaped from them and ran away. As the public gathered, the juveniles fled from the scene.

On receiving information, Kottar police registered a case and arrested the two juveniles. A probe revealed that the duo had a previous dispute with the student over teasing young women.

The police identified the deceased as Saji Krishnan, who was reportedly suffering from psychological issues. He had boarded the bus in the late evening.

He allegedly took the extreme step when the bus was nearing Gangaikondan in Tirunelveli district. He had reportedly hanged himself with a towel on the horizontal rail inside the sleeper section of the bus.

On receiving information, police reached the spot, recovered the body and sent it for post-mortem examination. Further investigation is under way.

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In a statement, Anbumani said the government had announced assistance worth Rs 4,000 per acre for kuruvai farmers across the State, including those in the Cauvery Delta districts, through fertilisers, seeds and direct financial assistance. However, the package had still not reached farmers, he alleged.

"Assistance to farmers must be provided with the same urgency as oxygen is administered to a patient in an emergency ward," Anbumani said, urging the government to act immediately.

He added that the package was meant to support farmers during transplantation and the period immediately afterwards. Since transplantation has already been completed and harvesting is expected to begin shortly, the delay was unjustified, he said.

Anbumani pointed out that the kuruvai procurement season is scheduled to begin on September 1, leaving the government only 10 days to provide the assistance.

He recalled that the PMK had repeatedly urged the government to provide the package, particularly as the Mettur Dam had not been opened for irrigation this year. Following these demands, the government issued the order on June 12, he said.

Replying to a debate on the demand for grants, Nirmalkumar said three POCSO courts would be established in Ariyalur, Perambalur and Pudukkottai districts. Fourteen would be constituted in districts with a pendency of POCSO cases.

The 14 courts would be established in Coimbatore, Cuddalore, Dharmapuri, Dindigul, Erode, Kallakurichi, Kanniyakumari, Krishnagiri, Salem, Tiruvallur and Tirunelveli, with two in Madurai. The government has earmarked Rs 25.30 crore for these courts.

For NDPS cases, three special courts would come up in Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Vellore, and a special court in Chennai, at a cost of Rs 6.73 crore.

The State will also establish a special court in Erode for cases under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, an additional district court at Perundurai and three subordinate courts at Sholinghur, Natham and Gummidipoondi.

The court issued the directive after it learned during the course of another hearing that there are no vice-chancellors in almost 14 universities in the State, and that most of the universities are now administered by registrars-in-charge, with all decisions being made by the convenor committee.

“Though this court is not inclined to entertain this writ petition, it wants to know the reasons for not filling up the posts of V-Cs and the steps taken by the State government to fill up the posts,” observed Justice B Pugalendhi.

The court issued the directive while hearing a writ petition filed by A Velanganni Joseph challenging the appointment of S Muthaiah as the in-charge Registrar of Madurai Kamaraj University, alleging that he did not possess the required qualifications.

The counsel appearing for Muthaiah submitted that he possessed all the required qualifications and had been appointed by a competent authority. He further submitted that Muthaiah was functioning only as registrar-in-charge on a temporary basis and that the process of appointing a regular registrar was underway.

After recording the submissions, the court directed the Additional Advocate General to obtain instructions from the principal secretary to the Government, Higher Education Department, on the reasons for not filling up the vice-chancellor posts and the steps being taken by the government to fill the vacancies.

The matter will come up for hearing after three weeks.

At Kelambakkam, K Praveen Kumar (23) was hacked to death by relatives and friends of a girl with whom he was reportedly in a relationship.

According to police, Praveen was talking to his friends near his house on Sunday night when a group surrounded him and attacked him with knives. He suffered grievous injuries and was admitted to a nearby private hospital. He died at the hospital in the early hours of Friday.

Police had earlier arrested Ezhumalai (48), Manikandan (38), and Natheesh (19), in connection with the assault. Following Praveen’s death, the case was altered to murder. Further investigation is underway.

In a separate incident at Kundrathur, a 27-year-old auto driver, Mahesh, was beaten to death by three of his friends, also auto-rickshaw drivers. Police identified the accused as Harikrishnan, Venkatesan and another person named Mahesh.

The trio was arrested after police, during a patrol near Tirumudivakkam in the early hours of Friday, noticed blood stains inside their auto. They were allegedly under the influence of alcohol at the time. During interrogation, they confessed to the murder.

Police said Harikrishnan had recently quarrelled with Mahesh while drinking and was humiliated after the fight took place in front of their friends. According to police, he invited Mahesh for drinks on Thursday night and attacked him with a sickle following an argument. The accused later hit him on the head with a stone, resulting in his death.

Police recovered the body and sent it for postmortem. The auto was seized and further investigation is underway.

Initiating the debate before the commencement of the demands for grants for the Energy and Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Departments, Udhayanidhi referred to Vijay’s August 19 statement that he had three files containing evidence of graft from the previous DMK regime and would reveal their contents at an appropriate time.

“The Chief Minister should open the files and take action against it. Why is he scared?” Udhayanidhi asked.

Minister for Public Works and Highways Aadhav Arjuna said the government was not scared and would take legal action based on valid evidence.

Speaker JCD Prabhakar, intervening in the exchange, clarified that the Chief Minister’s statement meant that the files were under his review and said the minister’s response should not be construed as a challenge to Udhayanidhi.

Unconvinced, the Leader of the Opposition reiterated that it's not a challenge, but an open challenge. “I have challenged the Chief Minister, and he should open all the files. The DMK is not scared about the issue,” he said.

The Speaker also expunged a remark made by Udhayanidhi while questioning Vijay’s decision on the files and warned members against making unverified or inflammatory statements without documentation.

The corruption-file exchange came amid a broader confrontation over the live telecast of Assembly proceedings and the impact of social media on legislative debates.

Udhayanidhi, while congratulating the Speaker, said more remarks of Treasury Bench members were being expunged than those of the Opposition. However, he pointed out that the remarks continued to circulate as edited video clips and “reels” because of the live telecast.

“The Speaker is expunging more speeches of the Treasury Benches than of the Opposition. Even though the Speaker expunges them, the versions are going viral as reels owing to the live telecast,” he said.

The speaker said members must maintain the dignity of the House and ensure that their speeches reflect the people’s voice. “I will look into media reporting those expunged remarks as per complaints raised,” he said.

The exchange comes two days after Vijay told the Assembly that three “incriminating files” containing evidence against the previous regime were on his table and warned the Opposition against repeatedly demanding proof. He had said the details would be disclosed at an appropriate time.

“What kind of approach is this?” she questioned the Vijay government's decision, while talking to media persons on the sidelines of a private meeting in Madurai. The BJP leader urged the government to use public money properly instead of wasting it on MLAs, saying that many of whom already own cars.

When asked about the criticism that Vijay had made a U-turn on the delimitation issue, talking about the freeze of seats and switching to a fair process after meeting Home Minister Amit Shah, Tamilisa asked, “What is wrong with his statement that the correct proportion should be followed?”

Urging against politicising delimitation, she said reservation for women is the only way to ensure opportunities for them. “Shah has said that Tamil Nadu’s share will not be reduced in any manner.”

She also urged the State government to expedite and closely monitor the preparatory works for the September 17 consecration of the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai. She also pointed out that several works did not appear to have been completed fully.

The DMK and AIADMK are seeking to protect Tamil Nadu’s existing representation, while the lone BJP member argued that an increase in the Lok Sabha's overall strength could result in the State gaining more seats. The PMK, too, favoured seeking additional seats if Tamil Nadu’s existing proportional share was protected.

PWD Minister Aadhav Arjuna said the government and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay remained committed to the Assembly resolution seeking to maintain the present number of seats and extend the freeze for another 25 years through Constitutional Amendments.

Opposition Leader Udhayanidhi Stalin of the DMK, however, countered that Vijay had, on the contrary, batted for a fair delimitation, leading to an increase in seats, at the Southern Zonal Council meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday.

Aadhav subsequently said the government’s position would reflect the stand adopted by all parties.

AIADMK general secretary and party Legislature Party leader Edappadi K Palaniswami said his party would oppose any reduction in Tamil Nadu’s existing 7.18 per cent share of Lok Sabha seats.

Aadhav accused the DMK of changing its stand after becoming the Opposition and demanded a special law to freeze the number of seats for another 25 years, similar to the measure introduced during the Vajpayee government.

PMK MLA A Ganesh Kumar also said delimitation could bring additional seats to Tamil Nadu if its existing proportional share was protected. He questioned why the Congress had shifted from demanding fair delimitation to opposing the exercise altogether.

Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu, meanwhile, criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his statements on the representation of southern states, alleging that Shah had made different statements inside and outside Parliament. He claimed the number of MPs from southern states could rise substantially and argued that such assurances were not reflected in the proposed delimitation framework.

As the exchange of arguments and counterarguments continued, Speaker JCD Prabhakar sought to bring the debate to a close, pointing out that the delimitation issue had already been discussed several times in the House.

Replying to the debate on demands for grants for his department in the Assembly on Friday, Law Minister R Nirmalkumar said TNDALU would introduce end-to-end examination automation and online valuation to streamline examinations. The system will cover registration, hall-ticket generation, valuation and publication of results through digital workflows.

The government will also establish a Tamil Nadu Code Web Portal to provide an online platform for laws, rules, government orders and other legal documents in the State.

Two-year LLM programmes will be introduced from 2026-27 at government law colleges in Chennai, Namakkal, Theni and Karaikudi. Two faculty posts will be created at each college.

At the Tamil Nadu National Law University in Tiruchy, a hostel accommodating 606 students with study rooms and other amenities will be constructed.

The government will install reverse osmosis (RO) systems in 12 government law colleges, benefiting 14,926 students. CCTV cameras will also be installed at these institutions for security.

The Law Department will shift to an e-office system, enabling electronic movement of files to reduce processing delays. Its libraries will also be strengthened with additional legal resources.

An AI Centre will be established at the School of Excellence in Law on the TNDALU campus for nearly 30,000 law students from TNDALU, government law colleges and affiliated private colleges.

The government will introduce an online system for issuing certificates to law students and teachers and strengthen library infrastructure.

Police said Nikitha had not attended classes for the past two days and had remained inside her hostel room.

On Thursday night, some students complained to the hostel authorities after noticing a foul smell emanating from the room. The hostel warden, along with other staff, opened the room and found Nikitha hanging from the ceiling.

The Ponnerikarai police were immediately informed, and a team of police who visited the spot recovered the body and sent it to Chengalpattu Government Medical College Hospital for post-mortem.

Following the incident, there was tension inside the college premises, and students claimed that the warden and hostel authorities had failed to monitor the student despite her absence from classes and the hostel premises for two days.

Later, more than 50 students gathered outside the college and staged a road protest, raising slogans demanding justice for Nikitha. The police who reached the spot held preliminary discussions with the college management and spoke to the protesting students.

Police had recovered a note indicating that Nikitha had taken the extreme step due to family-related reasons. Following the assurance from the police, the students withdrew their protest and dispersed peacefully.

The police are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death, and the police were also awaiting the postmortem report.

The Water Resources Department has proposed the reservoir across 6,950 acres in two phases. The groups say the project would alter a much larger coastal wetland that functions as a natural floodplain and coastal buffer.

The most significant concern is the project’s impact on the natural movement of floodwater. According to the representation, Phase I covers 4,375 acres of floodplain, with a 13-km catchment proposed to be diverted through a 200-metre inlet and a 70-metre-wide canal.

The petitioners have warned that this could increase flooding in parts of Kelambakkam, Tiruporur, Vengaleri and other upstream areas, particularly when the reservoir is already holding water and cannot accommodate sudden inflows.

The Kovalam-Nemmeli wetland is a brackish, tidally influenced ecosystem extending from the Muttukadu estuary towards Kokilamedu. The representation stated that the wetland served as a buffer against storm surges, coastal erosion and other extreme events. It cited the State’s 2024-coastal climate assessment, which classified Chengalpattu’s coastal climate risk and cyclone-track proximity as ‘very high’.

“For over 20 years, OMR residents have paid taxes and watched pipelines pass right through our corridor while our own taps remain dry. Now, we’re offered the disastrous Mamallan reservoir – a project that will encroach on the Kovalam-Nemmeli salt marsh, and destroy a critical habitat for over 200 resident and migratory bird species, robbing livelihoods, eroding biodiversity and exposing residents to floods. This is not sustainable water planning,” lamented Harsha Koda, co-founder, Federation of OMR Residents’ Associations (FOMRRA).

Narayanan, a fisherman from Kovalam, said that the backwater was particularly important for prawn fishing, which requires little investment and is accessible even to elderly people who cannot venture into the sea. “There has been no income for seven months since the beginning of this project,” he said. “The impact will extend beyond Kovalam, as fishers from several villages depend on the backwater.”

The representation also pointed out that thousands of people from 16 fishing villages, besides Irular and other inland fishing communities, depended on the wetland for prawns and crabs. It argued that replacing these natural fishing grounds with artificial infrastructure would destroy an existing livelihood system. It cited a habitat assessment that recorded 45,000 birds belonging to 102 species, while claiming that the wider wetland supported more than 200 species, including migratory birds and painted storks.

Replying to the debate on the demands for grants for his department, Law Minister R Nirmalkumar announced that prisoners in all jails would be served a special diet on Tamil Nadu Day on July 18, at a cost of Rs 25 lakh.

The government will also raise the monthly purchase limit at prison canteens. For ‘A’ class prisoners, the ceiling will be doubled from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000, while the limit for ‘B’ class prisoners will be increased from Rs 750 to Rs 1,500.

De-addiction centres will be established in seven district jails at a cost of Rs 65 lakh, while task-based wages for prisoners engaged in prison industries will be revised. To strengthen security, 400 AI-based CCTV cameras will be installed in central and women’s prisons at a cost of Rs 5.50 crore.

Prison personnel will undergo training in human rights, gender sensitisation, handling prisoners with disabilities and dealing with sexual and Pocso offences. Each of the 13 district jails will get a part-time psychologist, while one doctor and one staff nurse will be engaged in 12 district jails. An Industrial Training Institute will be established at Central Prison-I, Chennai, at Rs 8 crore.

An Integrated Mental Health Centre will be set up at Central Prison, Vellore, for Rs 3.63 crore. A new district jail complex will be established in Tiruvallur at Rs 48.76 crore. The government will also enhance assistance under the Victim Compensation Fund, with specified compensation slabs being raised.