Speaking to reporters after participating in the memorial day observance of freedom fighter Dheeran Chinnamalai at Odanilai near Archalur in Erode, Sengottaiyan said inflows had improved in several reservoirs, and many water bodies were expected to reach full capacity soon.

Drawing a parallel between rainfall and governance, he said the arrival of Cauvery water during the Aadi Perukku festival period reflected the positive developments taking place under the present administration.

The minister also said Tamil Nadu was emerging as a leading State under Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and claimed the TVK government's performance could even earn the appreciation of the Union government.

On land administration, Sengottaiyan said the government had appointed 1,730 surveyors to address delays in land surveys and the issuance of pattas. He expressed confidence that the long-pending issue would be resolved within six months.

Meanwhile, Ministers M Vijay Balaji, C Vijayalakshmi, S Kamali and D Lokesh Tamilselvan joined Sengottaiyan in paying floral tributes to the statue of freedom fighter Dheeran Chinnamalai on his 221st memorial day.

The deceased were identified as D Sanjay (19), a second-year college student from Ramakondahalli village in Dharmapuri district, and Deepan (17) from Sathya Nagar near Mallasamudram in Namakkal district.

Sanjay had gone to the Cauvery river near Nagamarai with his friends and drowned while bathing.  In a separate incident, Deepan, who had recently completed Class XII, drowned while bathing in the Cauvery at Kokkarayanpettai in Namakkal district.

Police have registered cases in connection with both incidents, and further investigations are under way.

Meanwhile, traditional Aadi Perukku celebrations at Hogenakkal in Dharmapuri district and Mettur in Salem district were subdued this year due to reduced flow in the Cauvery river. Officials said water released from Karnataka's Kabini reservoir was expected to reach Biligundlu, the entry point of the Cauvery into Tamil Nadu, on Monday night and subsequently reach the Mettur reservoir on Tuesday.

"The combined discharge from the Kabini and Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) reservoirs in Karnataka continues to be around 27,000 cusecs. The released water is expected to reach Mettur on Tuesday," a Water Resources Department official in Mettur said.

Prashant Kishor, a former political strategist who had previously engineered campaigns for leaders like Narendra Modi, Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal, secured his party's first entry into the Bihar Assembly in his electoral debut, delivering a major upset to the ruling BJP in its traditional bastion.

Taking to 'X', Stalin said, “Congratulations to #JanSuraaj founder Thiru. @PrashantKishor on his resounding win in the #Bankipur bypoll, marking @JanSuraajOnline's first electoral victory."

"Wishing him success in serving the people of the Bankipur constituency and the state of Bihar," the former CM added. Prashant Kishor also met with actor-turned-politician Vijay in Chennai last year to offer his guidance and analysis for the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party's debut in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

The Jan Suraaj Party founder made a historic electoral debut, winning the by-poll for Bihar’s prestigious Bankipur assembly constituency, in a big blow to the BJP, which had held the seat since 1995.

The defeat, coming days after the massive Gen Z protests across the country, was even more stinging because the seat was last held by BJP president Nitin Nabin, whose elevation necessitated the by-poll on August 30.

Speaking to reporters after paying floral tributes to freedom fighter Dheeran Chinnamalai at Guindy on his memorial day, Palaniswami said the government had refused to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the Cauvery issue despite repeated demands.

He said the government should have invited representatives of farmers' associations to participate in discussions so that all stakeholders could deliberate on the legal steps required to safeguard Tamil Nadu's rights. However, he alleged that the government ignored the request.

Palaniswami accused the government of acting without understanding the history of the Cauvery dispute. He said Tamil Nadu had secured a final verdict on the issue after years of legal and political efforts, but the present government had failed to protect the State's interests.

"The government's handling of the issue raises serious questions about its functioning," he alleged.

The AIADMK leader also accused the government of failing to secure super-speciality medical seats that rightfully belonged to Tamil Nadu.

On party affairs, Palaniswami said the AIADMK executive committee meeting would be held after the conclusion of the Assembly session, followed by the party's general council meeting.

In a statement, EPS said nearly 1 lakh kuruvai crops have withered this year due to the failure to open the Mettur dam on time. He demanded that the government should pay 25,000 rupees per acre as compensation and also ensure uninterrupted 3-phase power supply to the farmers

The budget would be transformative, carrying announcements aimed at long-term planning for the next 50 years, he said. "The budget will not be a repetition of the previous years. Every department will present announcements with a new purpose and direction, because we are planning for the next 50 years, not just the next election."

Addressing the Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Summit 2026 organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) attended by leading names in the industry, he invited them to invest in what he described as "India's first corruption-free State".

According to him, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had introduced an online governance system over the past 80 days, enabling people and investors to obtain government services digitally without having to visit government offices or ministers' chambers. " Invest in a corruption-free Tamil Nadu.

We will extend full cooperation to all investors. Your investments will create new jobs for Tamil Nadu's youth," he said.

The Chief Minister believes the future of Tamil Nadu lies with its youth, and the Budget would contain several initiatives for them, he said.

The State government was planning long-term infrastructure projects, including a road network that would eventually enable travel from Chennai to Kanniyakumari in just three hours, he said.

Citing IIT studies, he said several buildings constructed over the past 10 to 15 years were found to have structural deficiencies, and said the government would focus on durable infrastructure projects designed to last for decades.

Another aspect that the government was aiming was the transformation of Tamil Nadu into India's sports capital within the next five years, while increasing women's participation in higher education and development across northern and southern districts, said the sports minister.

Aadhav, who handles the PWD portfolio, also alleged that the previous government was indulging in large-scale corruption in road maintenance through patchwork and repair contracts. But now, the State has eliminated the practise of collecting bribe in the name of party funds, he claimed.

"Our Chief Minister, who earned the highest salary in India, gave it up to enter politics. This shows that money is not important to him. As ministers, we spent not a single rupee on elections for the first time in Tamil Nadu's electoral history, people voted without caste, religion, or money influencing them," Aadhav said.

Speaking to reporters after paying floral tributes to freedom fighter Dheeran Chinnamalai on his 221st memorial day, Ramesh said action had already been initiated against those involved in temple-related irregularities, from top officials to lower-level staff.

Admitting that there were irregularities in temples across the State, the minister said the government had resolved nearly 80 per cent of such issues within a short period and would continue to act against those responsible.

Ramesh said the proposed white paper would detail the alleged irregularities in the HR&CE Department during the previous government and asserted that those involved would not escape punishment.

He also announced that separate monitoring teams would be constituted for each temple to prevent irregularities and that efforts were underway to recover temple properties.

The minister said Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay believed in demonstrating results through action rather than words and had directed all ministers to ensure clean governance.

Addressing party cadres during a protest in Thanjavur against the Mekedatu project, Udayanidhi said the failure to secure Cauvery water had led to the loss of kuruvai cultivation across the Delta and cast doubt over the samba crop as well. He alleged that the State government had failed to respond to the crisis.

Claiming that Tamil Nadu should have received 42 tmc ft of Cauvery water over the past two months but had received only 4 tmc ft, Udayanidhi said the government neither cared about nor understood the suffering of farmers. "While farmers were crying over crop losses, ministers were in tears after watching a movie," he remarked.

He alleged that Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay was focused only on retaining power and had failed to support farmers. He further claimed that farmers who attempted to meet the Chief Minister were arrested.

Udayanidhi also criticised the State Cabinet, describing it as a "gang of jokers". He alleged that the Water Resources Minister avoided the media, that the Agriculture Minister offered prayers with the Budget at the Tirupati temple, and that he referred to the past activities of several ministers, including selling lottery tickets, pirated CDs, and movie tickets at exorbitant prices. He also alleged that one minister was alleged to be a drug user and another was "wandering with a wooden log."

He further accused the Chief Minister, ministers and their family members of prioritising making social media reels over governance.

Reiterating the DMK's stand against the Mekedatu project, Udayanidhi said the party would oppose its construction "at any cost" and continue to stand by farmers. He also contrasted Karnataka Chief Minister's decision to convene an all-party meeting on the issue with the Tamil Nadu government's reported reluctance to do so.

Aadi Perukku, the auspicious festival conducted for venerating the mother Cauvery, which is believed to bring joy and prosperity to the newly wed couple as well as the farmers.

This year, the mother Cauvery appeared parched, where the people who had to skip the sentimental holy dip but had to take a shower through the temporary arrangements made by the civic body, and there was less than 50 per cent footfall compared to last year.

As part of the traditional Aadi Perukku event Mangal-sutra of newlywed brides shall be replaced with another by a senior married woman member of the family, with prayers to the deity Cauvery to strengthen the family bonding among them.

Following the event of replacing mangalyam, the newlywed couples are asked to drift their wedding garland on the river Cauvery to take the blessings from their ancestors.

Pujas used to be performed at the Amma Mandapam venue since the place is believed to be the blessing of Srirangam Ranganathar, so doing such poojas in the place shall allow the people to have all the blessings.

With this traditional background, the people, unwilling to skip the customary celebrations, thronged to the traditional Amma Mandapam bathing ghat in Srirangam, where the city corporation had made a makeshift shower pipe and artificial streams were made to allow the people to conduct their rituals.

Though it is customary to thank Mother Cauvery for its full flow of water that would bring prosperity, a section of devotees had placed their offerings on the parched Cauvery and performed their rituals, while a few devotees had dug a pit in the Cauvery river bed and used the water for their rituals.

“The Cauvery was dry in 2017, previously during the Aadi Perukku and the situation repeated this year after nine long years. But still, the festival mood lingers among the devotees who realise their rituals with the available arrangements,” said S Vijayakumar, a resident of Srirangam.

Similarly, the people living along the Cauvery across the Delta region fulfilled their rituals in the available water bodies, including tanks and wells belonging to the temples in their respective districts.

In a statement, Stalin said that instead of celebrating the Aadi Perukku festival with the Cauvery in full flow, farmers from the Delta were protesting in anguish, but no strong condemnation is coming against Karnataka. He questioned whether CM Vijay is silent on Karnataka out of fear of the movie Jana Nayagan in the neighbouring state.

He said the DMK's protest, led by Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi, was being organised in support of the Cauvery Delta farmers. He warned that if the farmers' demands were not met, the agitation would intensify.

"The Cauvery water should have reached Tamil Nadu on June 12, but it has not arrived even at the beginning of August. The Cauvery Delta farmers are in deep distress due to the sluggish approach of the TVK-led government towards the Cauvery river water issue," Stalin said.

Questioning the Chief Minister, Stalin said the State was now witnessing a Chief Minister who was unwilling to speak against his Karnataka counterpart.

"Has the Chief Minister sacrificed the lives of Tamil Nadu's farmers for the sake of running a movie in the neighbouring State?" Stalin asked.

He also questioned whether the Chief Minister had seen the reports on the all-party meeting convened in Karnataka and asked why a similar meeting had not been convened in Tamil Nadu.

Launching a sharp attack on the Chief Minister, Stalin said he had remained silent over the arrest of Tamil Nadu farmers in Nagpur.

Demanding a complete waiver of farm loans and that the Delta districts be declared drought-hit, Stalin said the government should act seriously on the Cauvery river water issue without compromising the State's rights. Until then, the DMK's agitation will continue, he asserted.

Division bench comprising Justice CV Karthikeyan and Sakthivel issued this direction on Monday (Augusat 3) after the State government counsel submitted that action against bike taxis would continue until an appropriate decision is taken in the matter.

According to the petitioner Naveen Kumar from Madurai Digital platform-based bike taxi services such as Rapido, Ola and Uber are increasing in Tamil Nadu. However, the State does not have any policy or rules to regulate these services. Bike taxi services cannot operate independently like autorickshaws and rental cars, he stated.

Though the made representation to the State Government seeking registration of motorcycles as transport vehicles carrying passengers for hire and grants them necessary permits to operate them legally, he didn’t receive a response from the Government.

During the previous hearing the Court directed the State government to file its response.

When the case came up for hearing yesterday, the petitioner’s counsel submitted that the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had issued a circular to all States in January 2024 stating that the respective State governments may grant permission for operating bike taxis for commercial purposes (operating motorcycles).

He argued that directions should be issued to frame appropriate guidelines for operating bike taxis in Tamil Nadu in accordance with the Union government's circular.

He further submitted that, in accordance with the Union government's guidelines, permission has already been granted for operating bike taxis in 16 States. The Counsel further contended that the State government has no authority to refuse to grant such permission.

He also sought an interim order restraining the authorities from imposing penalties such as fines until a decision is taken in the matter.

After issuing directions, the Court posted the next hearing on September 7.

In a statement, Anbumani said the promotion-related issues in the police department have remained unresolved for over three decades, affecting several batches of sub-inspectors recruited from 1994 to 95. He alleged that instead of taking a policy decision, successive governments had allowed the matter to remain entangled in court proceedings.

Referring to the 1994- 95 recruitment of 1,198 sub-inspectors, he said 98 candidates, who received appointment orders only in 2,000, were denied seniority from the original recruitment year, resulting in delayed promotions. He claimed the issue had also affected officers recruited in 1998-99, 2004 and 2016, who were yet to receive promotions due to the pending dispute.

Anbumani urged the State government to inform the Madras High Court during the next hearing that it would grant appropriate seniority and promotions to the affected personnel and bring the 30-year-old issue to an end.

He also demanded that the government restore 20 per cent reservation for Tamil medium candidates in the departmental sub-inspector recruitment quota by re-enacting the lapsed legislation. Further, he sought parity in special pay, risk allowance, night duty allowance and food allowance for fingerprint experts serving in the police department.

The PMK leader urged the government to form a special committee and resolve all pending grievances of police personnel within a month.

The findings were part of the DVAC's enforcement drive carried out between July 1 and July 31.

During the month, the DVAC laid 24 traps in cases against government officials from various departments who allegedly demanded and accepted bribes, including methods like GPay, ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 1 lakh for performing official duties. Those arrested included a Joint Commissioner of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department, Tahsildars, engineers, police personnel, revenue officials, electricity board staff, village administrative officers, surveyors, panchayat secretaries, a State Tax Officer and other government employees.

The agency, along with District Inspection Cell officials, also conducted surprise inspections at 13 government offices in Krishnagiri, Tiruvallur, Theni, Kanniyakumari, Dindigul, Thanjavur, Ranipet, Chennai and Karur. These checks resulted in the seizure of Rs 13.39 lakh in unaccounted cash.

Separate inspections at six state border vehicle check posts led to the seizure of Rs 9.87 lakh in unaccounted cash. In total, Rs 23.26 lakh in unaccounted cash was seized during the inspections, with cases registered and investigations underway.

The DVAC also said that during July, four corruption cases reached conviction in Special Courts under the Prevention of Corruption Act and in the Principal and Sessions Courts at Tiruvallur and Ranipet.

Those convicted included a Tahsildar, the Tahsildar's driver, a headmistress, a school correspondent and a police sub-inspector. The courts sentenced them to rigorous imprisonment ranging from two to four years and imposed fines between Rs 1,000 and Rs 50,000.

State ministers paid floral tributes to him at Guindy in Chennai. Water Resources Minister N Anand, School Education Minister Rajmohan, IT Minister Kumar and Tourism Minister Rajesh Kumar attended the ceremony.

In a message marking the occasion, Chief Minister Vijay hailed Dheeran Chinnamalai as a courageous warrior who fought against British oppression and raised the call for freedom at a time when the East India Company was expanding its control over large parts of the country.

Paying homage to the freedom fighter, he said Chinnamalai had firmly resisted the East India Company’s taxation policies and foreign domination and ultimately sacrificed his life for the liberation of the motherland.

“I pay my respects to freedom fighter Dheeran Chinnamalai, who fought against British oppression and raised the slogan of freedom, on his death anniversary,” Chief Minister Vijay said in the message.

He said the courage, self-confidence, patriotism and spirit of sacrifice displayed by Chinnamalai continued to inspire successive generations and remained an enduring symbol of resistance to colonial rule.

Chinnamalai’s willingness to confront a powerful colonial administration demonstrated his unwavering commitment to freedom and the rights of his people, he said. His life and struggle had secured him a permanent place among the prominent figures who challenged British authority in southern India.

Recalling the sacrifices made during the freedom struggle, Chief Minister Vijay said the independence enjoyed by the present generation had been made possible by countless freedom fighters who placed the interests of the nation above their own lives.

“May the glory of the brave hero who gave his life so that we could breathe the air of freedom live forever,” Chief Minister Vijay said.

Dheeran Chinnamalai, born as Theerthagiri in the Kongu region of present-day Tamil Nadu, emerged as one of the prominent early opponents of British expansion in southern India. He organised resistance against the East India Company and fought several battles against British forces.

His opposition to colonial taxation and attempts to establish British political control made him an important figure in Tamil Nadu’s history of resistance against colonialism.

Chinnamalai was eventually captured by the British and executed at Sankagiri in 1805. His resistance, courage and sacrifice continue to be commemorated in Tamil Nadu, particularly in the western districts, where his legacy remains deeply rooted in public memory.

His death anniversary is observed every year with leaders, organisations and members of the public paying homage and recalling his contribution to the struggle against British rule.

After the video of the assault emerged on social media from Monday, the District Elementary Education Officer held an inquiry and recommended action against her.

The teacher in the dock, Kalaimathi, is also the assistant headmistress of the school.

According to sources, she was accused of corporal punishment. After receiving complaints from parents, the headmistress, Bhuvana, lodged a complaint with the District Elementary Education Officer (DEEO) Shanmugavel.

Based on the complaint, the DEEO conducted an inquiry with Kalaimathi on July 30.

This triggered an altercation between the teacher and the headmistress, during which the teacher manhandled the HM in front of the students.

After the video of the assault surfaced on social media from Monday, DEEO Shanmugavel conducted another inquiry and forwarded a formal complaint to the Assistant Director of Primary Education, recommending action against Kalaimathi.

Inaugurating the faculty upgradation programme on NextGen Cyber Forensics tools and Technologies in NIT, Tiruchy, the IGP Balakrishnan emphasised the importance of consistency in the administration of justice as a critical factor in crime prevention. He acclaimed the indispensable role of forensic science in both conventional and digital investigations while discussing the contemporary challenges confronting forensic practitioners, including the exponential growth of digital data, privacy regulations, and rapid technological advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Expressing concerns over the substantial financial losses caused by cybercrime due to the emerging cyber slavery, the IGP appealed for a greater public awareness of indigenous forensic technologies and urged that research organisations should actively disseminate knowledge about the tools they develop to facilitate their effective utilisation in criminal investigations.

He further underscored the growing sophistication of cybercrimes and called for continuous capacity building, collaborative research, and the adoption of advanced digital forensic technologies. He encouraged faculty members and researchers to remain abreast of emerging developments in cyber security and cyber forensics and suggested that C-DAC Thiruvananthapuram explore collaborative initiatives with NIT Tiruchy and the Tamil Nadu Police.

While addressing, AR Vinukumar, Scientist-G and Head, Cyber Forensics Section (CFS) and Software Training Division (STDC), C-DAC Thiruvananthapuram said, the increasing significance of cyber forensics in combating complex digital crimes. He showcased several indigenous cyber forensic tools and technologies developed by C-DAC to support digital investigations and cybercrime analysis.

He encouraged academicians to develop expertise in both the proactive (offensive and defensive) and post-incident (postmortem) dimensions of cyber forensics. Referring to the continual technological race between law enforcement agencies and cybercriminals, he emphasized the importance of producing highly skilled researchers and “Cyber Warriors”; capable of addressing emerging cyber threats. He also provided an overview of the objectives and initiatives undertaken under the ISEA Phase III Project of MeitY, Government of India.

R Jeyapaul, Dean (Faculty Welfare), NIT presided over the programme. N Sivakumaran, programme coordinator, welcomed the gathering and outlined the objectives of the faculty upgradation programme.

Addressing reporters in Erode after paying tributes to freedom fighter Dheeran Chinnamalai at his memorial in Odanilai near Arachalur, Nagenthran said the BJP had no intention of politicising the Cauvery issue.

Questioning Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's handling of the dispute, Nagenthran said the State government should have convened an all-party meeting to discuss the issue before it became a political controversy. "The Congress leaders have also failed to take a clear stand on the Cauvery dispute," he said.

Expressing confidence that Karnataka would not be permitted to construct the proposed Mekedatu dam, Nagenthran said the CWMA, acting under the directions of the Supreme Court, has full authority over the matter and would not grant approval for the project.

Referring to the CWMA's direction to Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water a day for 15 days to Tamil Nadu, he said that the directive had not been complied with and claimed that Tamil Nadu had historically received only surplus water from Karnataka. Nagenthran also said that TVK functionaries in Tirunelveli had begun demanding a 10 per cent commission in connection with public works tenders.

Liphin Ponnusamy Leela of Vilavancode, Kanniyakumari district, filed the petition contending that the blanket ban imposed by the State government on the transportation of minerals across Tamil Nadu's borders had brought his lawful business to a standstill, causing immense financial distress and resulting in a breach of existing commercial contracts.

The petitioner submitted that the State government had issued a Government Order on July 27, 2026, inserting Rule 3-A into the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation and Storage of Minerals and Mineral Dealers Rules, 2011, thereby empowering the Director of Geology and Mining, Chennai, to implement the ban.

The petition also claimed that if the State sought to impose restrictions on inter-State trade under Article 304(b) of the Constitution in the name of public interest, such an amendment could not come into force without the mandatory prior sanction of the President of India

When the case came up for hearing before a Division Bench comprising Justices CV Karthikeyan and S Sakthivel, the petitioner's counsel, said that a similar attempt by the Gujarat government to restrict the inter-State movement of minor minerals had been struck down by the Supreme Court. The apex court had also held that the power conferred on State governments under Section 23-C of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, was confined to framing rules for preventing illegal mining, transportation and storage of minerals.

The State, however, submitted that the order had been issued only to streamline the system and that it was a temporary measure that would remain in force for three months.

After hearing both sides, the Bench directed the State government to file a detailed counter affidavit and adjourned the case to August 10.

Palaniswami also requested officials from the Revenue and Agriculture departments to immediately inspect affected fields across the region and provide uninterrupted 24-hour free three-phase electricity to save surviving crops.

"Every year, water from the Mettur dam is customarily released on June 12 for the Kuruvai cultivation season. However, this year, water was not released from the reservoir," the former chief minister said in a statement.

The AIADMK chief claimed that due to the non-release of Cauvery water, farmers across approximately 1.85 lakh acres in the Delta districts, who depend primarily on river irrigation, were unable to carry out Kuruvai cultivation and suffered immense losses.

The Delta farmers who relied on open wells and borewells proceeded with Kuruvai cultivation this year and spent around Rs 25,000 per acre in physical labour and cultivation expenses.

"Severe water scarcity has caused Kuruvai paddy crops across nearly one lakh acres in areas including Nannilam and Kudavasal in Tiruvarur district as well as other Delta regions, to wither completely, ruining the livelihood of farmers," the AIADMK chief said.

"I urge the government to immediately dispatch Revenue and Agriculture Department officials directly to the Delta districts to inspect the withered and damaged paddy fields," he said.

"The government should also sanction a compensation of Rs 25,000 per acre to all affected farmers and moreover, to protect the remaining standing crops, uninterrupted 24-hour free three-phase electricity for agriculture should be provided," he added.

As the video of his speech has gone viral, the comment has drawn condemnation from social media users, with many questioning the language used by the DMK leader at a public gathering.

Udhayanidhi was addressing a DMK agitation in front of the Panagal Building in Thanjavur, demanding action to stop the proposed Mekedatu dam project and seeking the declaration of the Delta districts as drought-hit areas, according to a Daily Thanthi report.

Udhayanidhi calls Vijay a ‘dummy CM’

Addressing the gathering, Udhayanidhi Stalin blamed the Vijay-led government for the difficulties faced by kuruvai farmers and accused the Chief Minister of failing to take appropriate action on the Cauvery water issue. He said that Aadi Perukku was traditionally celebrated with the Cauvery flowing in full force, but the river was now running dry in the Delta region due to the lack of water.

Calling Vijay a "dummy Chief Minister", the LoP alleged that the state's administrative failures had resulted in the current situation faced by farmers. "Would this situation have occurred if the DMK had been in power?" he asked, alleging that the Chief Minister had remained silent despite the difficulties faced by farmers.

Udhayanidhi also questioned whether Vijay had met farmers in the state and alleged that the Tamil Nadu government had failed to take adequate steps in the Cauvery dispute. He further claimed that the Chief Minister lacked the courage to confront the Congress government in Karnataka over the issue.

'Joker ministers are busy making reels', says Udhayanidhi

Udhayanidhi Stalin also launched a strong attack on the state Cabinet, referring to the ministers as a "joker group" while making several allegations against the ruling establishment.

He alleged that while farmers were suffering, ministers were busy with other activities and accused the government of attempting to divert public attention whenever a major issue emerged. "Open your mouth. Speak up on the Mekedatu issue. Chief Minister, who is sleeping on the Mekedatu issue, speak up. Don't you understand the suffering of the farmers?" Udhayanidhi Stalin asked.

He also criticised Water Resources Minister Anand, alleging that the minister avoided the media, and questioned the involvement of relatives of ministers in government inspections. "Who is a minister? Even officials do not know. The Chief Minister himself does not know who his ministers are," he said.

Udhayanidhi further alleged that the ruling establishment had become obsessed with making reels, claiming that the Chief Minister, ministers and MLAs were constantly engaged in social media publicity.

He added that the DMK was continuing its fight for farmers through public protests and legal action and claimed that legal proceedings had also been initiated in connection with the Cauvery dispute before the Supreme Court.

The organisers said the movement was not merely a protest against an entrance examination but a broader struggle to safeguard Tamil Nadu's rights over education, state autonomy, public healthcare and social justice.

It called upon the people of Tamil Nadu, political parties, and student and youth organisations to unite under the demand to abolish NEET and fight to protect the state's rights over education.

The organisation had launched an indefinite hunger strike at Thiruvalluvar Illam, the headquarters of the Tamilaga Vazhvurimai Katchi, in Chinmaya Nagar, Koyambedu on Saturday, along with members of the Anti-NEET Joint Action Committee.

Besides seeking the scrapping of NEET, the protesters also demanded the withdrawal of cases registered against students who participated in the recent anti-NEET demonstration at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

The ongoing hunger strike, led by Ravi, Pulianthope Mohan, Jeeva and Dhanasekar, along with Anitha's brother, aims to intensify the calls to cancel NEET, it said.

The statement also recalled Anitha, the student from Ariyalur who had challenged the implementation of NEET and fought the issue up to the Supreme Court.

After she was denied relief, her death by suicide in 2017 became a major turning point in the anti-NEET movement in Tamil Nadu, triggering widespread protests by students and youngsters across the state.

The statement also urged the Tamil Nadu government to expedite the legal and legislative measures being taken to secure exemption from NEET.

According to a press release, CTR Nirmalkumar, the party's Joint General Secretary, and A Rajmohan, the party's Deputy General Secretary, have been appointed as chief spokespersons. Rajmohan has also been named the in-charge of the Media and Communications Wing.

The party has appointed S Ramesh, J Catherine Pandian and KCT Ananthajith Mahiya as coordinators.

TVK also announced the appointment of seven chief spokespersons, including SS Vaigaichelvan, VP Kalairajan, C Mahendran, Y Jawahar Ali and Va Pugazhendhi.

Eight others, including YouTuber Felix Gerald, Advocate and chartered accountant Dr M Sathyakumar, S Veera Vigneshwaran, MK Thenmozhi Prasanna, Americai V Narayanan, Advocate A Sasirekha, Pazha Selvakumar and Vivek Gnanathan, have been appointed as national spokespersons.

The party also named 12 state spokespersons, including Mugil Veerappan alias MK Sivakumar, M Gnana Selvin Inbaraj alias MGS Inba, S Muhammad Ibrahim alias Ravuthar Ibrahim, Jagadeesapandian, PK Jayakumar, D Kandasamy, RK Jaleel, A Devakumar and M Soundararaja.

In addition, Tamilan Rahul Gandhi alias Rahul Gandhi, S Thyagarajan and Nareshkumar Rajendran have been appointed as State digital media spokespersons.

The posters also describe the Trisha Welfare Association as "the first one recognised by the Tamil Nadu Government," even though there is no official confirmation whether it was floated with the consent of the actor.

Trisha's frequent public appearances with Chief Minister Joseph Vijay, including her attendance at his swearing-in ceremony following the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's (TVK) poll win, have fuelled speculation on social media about her possible entry into politics. However, the actor has publicly denied any affiliation with the TVK.

Against this backdrop, a newly formed Trisha Welfare Association has made it to the news. Members of the association have pasted posters across the city indirectly inviting the actor to enter politics. There was also no clarification or denial from the actor regarding the posters until the time the news went to print.

Although the posters bear registration number 53/2026, they do not list the names or designations of the association's office-bearers. Instead, they feature photographs of around seven men dressed in white shirts, apparently indicating that they are the organisers of the association.

When contacted, Madurai South Vijay Makkal Iyakkam president and TVK MLA SR Thangapandi claimed he was unaware of this and refused to comment further.

Madurai has historically been associated with the growth of fan club movements for several Tamil film actors. The Makkal Thalaivan Rajinikanth Thalaimai Narpani Mandram, regarded as one of Rajinikanth's earliest fan clubs, was started in Madurai in 1977.

An official release here said the government filed a petition in the apex court on the directions of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay who discussed the matter with senior advocates.

As of August 3, the combined total storage in the reservoirs in Karnataka--KRS, Kabini, Harangi and Hemavathy, stood at 77.537 TMC and Karnataka would face no difficulty in releasing Tamil Nadu's due share proportionately.

Following rains in the catchment areas in the KRS and Kabini dams in Karnataka recently, the proportionate water to be realised at Biligundlu should be 26.954 TMC, it said.

"Accordingly, the Cauvery Water Management Authority order allocating 4.536 TMC is very less," the release added.

Karnataka has "failed" to share Tamil Nadu its due share of water and the quantum was 26.954 TMC, following which the CM directed the state to move the SC on the advice of senior advocates and secure a "due order", it added.

"On the direction of the chief minister, to find a solution to this issue and get Tamil Nadu's due share of water on time, a petition has been filed in the Supreme Court," the release said.

Addressing the CII Infrastructure Summit, Nageswaran said India is increasingly witnessing floods and droughts in the same State within a year. "Volatility, and not scarcity, is the new enemy of economic activity," he said, stressing that water infrastructure should be planned, built and financed just like roads and power.

He called for creating a comprehensive water buffer through greater storage capacity, groundwater recharge, wastewater reuse, desalination in coastal regions, and watershed management inland. "Water security is not a sector sitting beside agriculture, industry and health; it sits underneath all of this," he said.

Linking urban planning with water management, the CEA said India's low FSI limits compared with global cities have forced urban sprawl instead of vertical growth. As cities expand outward, he said, land becomes scarcer and more expensive, pushing development onto ecologically sensitive areas such as old tanks, lakes and filled-up ponds.

"When we cannot build upward, we spread outward. Every square metre of built space ends up carrying more land beneath it," he said.

The loss of traditional waterbodies and catchments, he added, leaves cities vulnerable to flooding during heavy rains while reducing their ability to store water during dry spells.

"We gain a little floor space and lose our storage. When the rains come, the water has nowhere to go, and we face flood. When they fail, nothing has been held back, and then we run dry. Everyone loses in the end," Nageswaran said.

He also criticised the practice of pricing water at virtually zero, saying it encourages waste and discourages investment in water infrastructure. "The thing we call free is the thing we destroy. This is not a paradox. It is a policy choice, and it can be chosen differently," he remarked.

Nageswaran’s remarks come amid growing concerns over climate-induced weather extremes and renewed focus on urban resilience and sustainable infrastructure planning.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, Palaniswami made the remarks after paying floral tributes to the statue of freedom fighter Dheeran Chinnamalai at Guindy on the occasion of his 221st death anniversary.

'Government lacks experience'

Addressing reporters, Palaniswami said the TVK government, which came to power within two-and-a-half years of the party's formation, had not yet gained sufficient experience in handling complex issues such as the Cauvery dispute.

He alleged that the government had failed to consult other political parties before taking decisions and questioned the measures adopted so far to secure Cauvery water for Tamil Nadu.

Palaniswami further claimed that the government had failed to effectively implement the Supreme Court's verdict on the Cauvery issue and said a comprehensive strategy was needed to safeguard the State's interests.

Calls for legal consultations

The AIADMK leader said the Cauvery dispute and the Mekedatu dam issue should be pursued after consulting senior legal experts to ensure Tamil Nadu presents a strong legal case before the appropriate forums.

He also criticised the ruling dispensation for allegedly ignoring suggestions put forward by leaders of various political parties on the Cauvery issue.

Drawing a comparison with Karnataka, Palaniswami said the neighbouring State government had convened an all-party meeting and sought the views of political leaders and farmers regarding the Mekedatu project.

Seeks participation of farmers

Palaniswami said both AIADMK and DMK governments had, in the past, convened all-party meetings while dealing with the Cauvery issue and stressed that such consultations had been an established practice irrespective of which party was in power.

He urged the TVK government to follow the same approach by inviting leaders of all political parties and representatives of farmers' associations to discuss the issue and formulate a united stand on protecting Tamil Nadu's water rights.

The AIADMK chief maintained that a collective approach involving political parties, legal experts and farmers would strengthen Tamil Nadu's position in the Cauvery dispute as well as in opposing the proposed Mekedatu dam project.

General Council meeting soon

Responding to another query, Palaniswami announced that the AIADMK General Council meeting would be convened shortly. However, he did not specify the date or agenda for the meeting

A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and Vipul M Pancholi issued a notice to original petitioners Rama Ravikumar and others but refused to stay the high court order.

The top court tagged Tamil Nadu's plea with the pending matter and adjourned it.

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay-led state government has challenged the January 6 order of the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court that upheld the single judge's order of December 1, 2025, which had ordered that the ceremonial lamp be lit on the festival day.

The State government said the promotions were made based on seniority and merit as part of its policy of transparent personnel management. The move is expected to strengthen field operations by improving supervision of power distribution, maintenance, new service connections and substation operations, especially ahead of the northeast monsoon.

The promoted engineers will also play a key role in improving the state's power infrastructure and ensuring reliable electricity supply to consumers, the release said.

The government said it was clearing long-pending promotions and administrative matters to improve employee career progression, morale and operational efficiency across the TNPDCL.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, outdoor showers have been installed at the Amma Mandapam bathing ghat to facilitate devotees who traditionally take a holy dip in the river on the occasion.

Aadi Perukku, celebrated on the 18th day of the Tamil month of Aadi, is one of the important traditional festivals of Tamil Nadu. The festival is celebrated with great fervour in districts along the Cauvery, with the Amma Mandapam ghat in Tiruchirappalli witnessing a large gathering of devotees every year.

No water in Cauvery this year

Last year, the Cauvery flowed at a high level, touching all 12 steps of the Amma Mandapam ghat, allowing devotees to take a holy dip and celebrate Aadi Perukku in a grand manner.

However, this year, the river remains largely dry due to the failure of the southwest monsoon and the lack of water released from Karnataka. With the water level remaining critically low, water was not released from the Mettur dam on June 12 for kuruvai cultivation. This has affected kuruvai farming activities and has also cast a shadow over the Aadi Perukku celebrations.

Only a small quantity of stagnant water resembling a sewage-filled stretch is visible in the middle of the Cauvery river. As a result, devotees are unable to take a traditional holy dip in the river.

Outdoor showers arranged for devotees

Despite the lack of water, devotees, particularly married women, are expected to perform special rituals and offer prayers to Mother Cauvery on Aadi Perukku, seeking blessings for the well-being and longevity of their husbands.

Newly married couples also traditionally release the garlands they wore during their wedding into the Cauvery and take a holy dip as part of the celebrations. Since the river is currently without sufficient water, the civic authorities have installed showers connected to water pipelines at the Amma Mandapam bathing ghat to enable devotees to bathe.

Temporary barricades made of bamboo have also been erected at the ghat to facilitate the movement of devotees and ensure their safety.

600 police personnel deployed

As a large number of people are expected to gather at Amma Mandapam for the festival, around 600 police personnel have been deployed to regulate the crowd and maintain security. A temporary watchtower has also been set up in the Cauvery river to monitor the situation.

Similarly, at Thiruvaiyaru in Thanjavur district, pump sets have been installed to provide water facilities for people wishing to take a holy bath during the festival.

The situation is reminiscent of 2019, when the Aadi Perukku festival was celebrated without sufficient water in the Cauvery and showers were arranged for devotees. In contrast, the river had a good flow from 2020 to 2025, allowing Aadi Perukku celebrations to be held on a grand scale. This year marks the return of a water-starved Aadi Perukku celebration after six years.

Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan granted bail to Markandayan, directing him to file an undertaking before the Thoothukudi court that he would refrain from making such remarks in future. The court also directed him to appear before the jurisdictional police station and sign the register for two weeks, except on the days when the Legislative Assembly is in session.

According to the prosecution, the MLA allegedly used insulting language and issued criminal threats, including statements suggesting that Chief Minister Vijay would be confronted inside the Legislative Assembly and physically harmed if he shuts down the Assembly as he claimed in a meeting in Karur.

Based on a complaint lodged by Thoothukudi North TVK district secretary S Balasubramanian police registered a case against Markandayan under Sections 351 (3), 352, and 353 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Meanwhile, Markandayan moved the Madras High Court seeking bail. In his petition, he contended that the Thoothukudi police arrested him without issuing a notice under Section 35 (3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and without affording him an opportunity to appear before the Investigating Officer.

His bail petition was dismissed by the Thoothukudi principal district and sessions court on July 30. Aggrieved by the order, Markandayan filed the present bail appeal before the Madras High Court.

During the hearing, State Public Prosecutor John Sathyan submitted that, with the Assembly session scheduled to commence on August 5, the court may direct Markandayan to furnish an undertaking that he would not make such derogatory or threatening remarks against Chief Minister Vijay in future.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the demand has gained momentum as Coimbatore continues to expand as one of Tamil Nadu's major industrial and commercial hubs. Infrastructure at Coimbatore International Airport is currently being upgraded to meet the growing passenger traffic generated by the city's increasing population and business activity.

At present, Coimbatore has flight connectivity to major domestic destinations, including Chennai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata, besides international services to Sharjah and Singapore. However, despite Thoothukudi being one of Tamil Nadu's key port cities, there is no direct air connectivity between the two cities.

Industrial sector highlights need

Industrialists pointed out that Coimbatore is home to a large number of entrepreneurs from southern Tamil Nadu who are engaged in manufacturing, exports and trading activities. Products such as textiles, engineering goods and machinery components manufactured in Coimbatore and neighbouring Tirupur are exported to various countries through the ports of Kochi and Thoothukudi.

In the absence of direct flights, business travellers are forced to depend on trains, private buses or road transport to reach Thoothukudi. Representatives from the textile industry said the proposed service would significantly reduce travel time and improve logistics for exporters.

Former Coimbatore Industrial Chamber president Nandakumar and other industry representatives said the Union Government's UDAN scheme was introduced to improve regional air connectivity by linking smaller and medium-sized cities. They urged the authorities to include Coimbatore-Thoothukudi and Coimbatore-Thiruvananthapuram routes under the scheme.

ATR aircraft suggested initially

Industry representatives suggested that the service could initially be operated using ATR-72 aircraft with a seating capacity of around 72 to 78 passengers. If passenger demand increases, larger aircraft could be deployed in the future.

They said such a service would not only benefit exporters and industrialists but also the general public. In addition, many devotees from western Tamil Nadu travel regularly to the Tiruchendur Subramania Swamy Temple, and a direct flight to Thoothukudi would considerably reduce travel time for pilgrims.

They also noted that Coimbatore currently lacks direct air connectivity to Thiruvananthapuram despite the growing demand for travel between the two cities.

Airport officials acknowledge demand

According to the report, officials at Coimbatore Airport acknowledged that there has been increasing demand for direct flights connecting Coimbatore with cities such as Thoothukudi, Madurai and Thiruvananthapuram.

They said the Airports Authority of India has been informed about the growing demand and added that the airport is prepared to facilitate operations once the necessary approvals are granted by the concerned authorities.

With expansion work progressing rapidly at both airports, industrial bodies believe the proposed flight services would strengthen regional connectivity, support trade and tourism, and further enhance Coimbatore's position as a major economic hub in Tamil Nadu.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the fire triggered by an alleged electrical leak, was brought under control after a two-hour firefighting operation.

Where did the fire accident occur?

The incident occurred at a private tapioca mill in Attur, where tapioca tubers are processed into starch and flour. An electrical leak at around 6 pm caused sacks stored at the factory to catch fire.

How did the factory catch fire?

Chlorine powder kept in bags for cleaning the tubers was also affected as the fire spread, with smoke continuing to rise from the area where it was stored. Workers attempted to douse the flames by pouring water.

However, the chlorine powder reportedly reacted, leading to a gas leak along with the smoke. Fire and Rescue Services personnel rushed to the factory after receiving information and launched efforts to contain both the fire and the gas leak.

Further investigation is underway.

Rajakumari (51), her sons, Balaji (31) and Sriram (27), Sriram's wife Ranjana, and their one-and-a-half-year-old daughter Praneeka Sri died on the spot. Police and Fire and Rescue Services personnel rescued Rajakumari’s husband Kanagaraj (55) from the wreckage.

He sustained grievous injuries and was rushed to the Government Rajaji Hospital.

The family was travelling to Kovilpatti in Thoothukudi after Balaji's wife, Aishwarya, gave birth to a baby in Kovilpatti. Balaji had travelled separately by bus and joined his family near Villupuram to travel together.

When the car driven by Sriram reached near the Thumbaipatti bridge, it grazed a motorcycle carrying two men. It then hit the median, crossed into the opposite carriageway, overturned and rolled several times. Worsening the accident, another car travelling from Madurai towards Tiruchy collided with the vehicle.

Prakash of Madurai, who was travelling in the other car, and the two motorcyclists, Murugan (55) and Murugan (40) of SV Mangalam near Singampunari, sustained injuries. They were admitted to the Melur Government Hospital for treatment.

After a prolonged rescue operation, the bodies of the five victims were retrieved from the mangled car and sent to the Melur Government Hospital for post-mortem examination.

Madurai Collector M Nishanth Krishna and Superintendent of Police BK Arvind Devanathan inspected the accident site and later visited the hospital to console the injured and their relatives.

Traffic on the four-lane highway was diverted through the service road for several hours following the accident.

“The Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS) covers most of the medical needs of people. Now we are discussing if we can further increase its scope. A good decision will be taken soon,” he said here during a press conference on ongoing administrative challenges in State-run medical facilities.

Responding to reporters’ queries about complaints that treatments covered by insurance were sometimes difficult to access in government hospitals, the minister attributed the friction to a lack of public awareness. Acknowledging persistent complaints regarding poor sanitation, drainage issues, and pest infestations in government hospital wards, he stated that the government is rolling out phased infrastructural upgrades, including the distribution of new bed linens to resolve immediate hygiene concerns.

Reaffirming the administration’s zero-tolerance policy towards corruption, the minister also issued a stern warning to hospital staff against extorting money from patients. He highlighted the recent dismissal of four employees at KMC.

As part of protests against Karnataka, farmers led by United Farmers’ Association president Sankarayya and others were travelling by train from Chennai to Delhi to stage a demonstration. Sami Natarajan alleged that they were deboarded from the train and detained by police at Nagpur on Sunday.

The Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Association strongly condemned the detention and urged the Union government to immediately release the farmers and make necessary arrangements to enable them to continue their journey to Delhi. The association said the detention amounted to a denial of the democratic right to protest guaranteed by the Constitution.

Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin condemned the action, calling it undemocratic.

He alleged that Karnataka’s water releases over the past two days had been made in an erratic manner to divert surplus water. “On Saturday, the discharge from the Kabini reservoir into the Cauvery was increased to 25,000 cusecs. It was drastically reduced to 10,000 cusecs on Sunday morning before being revised to 14,958 cusecs as inflows rose to 28,009 cusecs.”

This unpredictable pattern clearly demonstrates that Karnataka has no intention of releasing Tamil Nadu’s lawful share of water, he said. “Karnataka is diverting a major portion of the water released from Harangi to the Krishna Raja Sagara reservoir to fill it up,” he alleged, adding, “While the inflow into Harangi stands at 10,430 cusecs, 14,470 cusecs is being released towards KRS.”

He claimed that Hemavathi was expected to reach its full capacity within a week and that its surplus water would also be stored in the KRS reservoir, reflecting Karnataka’s continued refusal to release Tamil Nadu’s due share of water. “It is using Cauvery merely as a flood drainage channel to flush out surplus water,” Anbumani alleged.

The boat sank into the sea, but all crew members managed to survive by jumping into the water and clinging to a nearby trawler. The vessel, owned by Sugirthan from the Tharuvaikulam fishing village near Thoothukudi, had set sail two days ago with seven fishermen on board.

According to local sources, while they were casting their nets in the waters between Punnakayal and Tiruchendur, sudden violent winds hit the area, causing the country craft to lose balance. Seeing the boat go under, Sugirthan and six other crew members jumped into the ocean.

Fishermen on a mechanised boat operating nearby spotted them and pulled all seven safely aboard. CSG police have registered a case.

The Collector constituted the committee after a team of doctors recently brought to his attention that there is no proper mechanism for the disposal of biomedical waste in Madurai and the southern districts. As a result, private companies that collect biomedical waste have allegedly been dumping it in the Vaigai River and on roadsides.

The doctors also claimed that exposure to biomedical waste poses a serious threat to public health and the environment.

Pointing to the absence of a biomedical waste treatment facility in Madurai, the doctors said TN Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) officials had informed them that the biomedical waste generated in the district is being transported to Gummidipoondi, nearly 600 kilometres away, for the disposal.

Confirming that the biomedical waste collected in Madurai is being transported to Gummidipoondi by a private firm, a TNPCB source said this was necessary because there are no biomedical waste treatment facilities in Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram and Virudhunagar districts.

"The biomedical waste treatment unit that functioned in Virudhunagar was closed following protests by residents, who feared that it would cause environmental pollution and health hazards," the source said.

The source further said that although officials had tried to allay the public's fears, the residents were not convinced. "It was also an election period, so we could not do anything about it," the source added.

When the TNPCB attempted to rope in private players to establish biomedical waste treatment facilities in Theni and Sivaganga, residents protested against the move. "We are helpless," the source said.

The source, however, said that the only long-term solution to the problem is to establish at least one biomedical waste treatment facility for every two districts after winning the confidence of the local people. 

"As an immediate solution, the Collector should take steps to reopen the biomedical waste treatment unit in Virudhunagar," the source said, expressing hope that the special team would recommend a viable solution.

The State recorded a maximum instantaneous wind power generation of 6,731 MW, surpassing the previous all-time high of 6,558 MW achieved on July 12 this year.

The achievement comes less than a month after the State crossed the 6,500 MW mark. Tamil Nadu had earlier set a record of 6,339 MW on July 16, overtaking the previous high of 5,899 MW recorded on July 30, 2024.

In another milestone, the State registered its highest-ever daily wind energy evacuation of 142.43 million units (MU), eclipsing the previous record of 124.34 MU achieved on July 3, 2026. The July 3 record had itself surpassed the earlier high of 123.85 MU on August 16, 2025.

In addition, solar power also made a significant contribution to the State's renewable energy output. Solar generation stood at 54.952 MU during the day. The State's highest-ever instantaneous solar generation remains 7,962 MW, achieved on July 25, 2026, while the record for daily solar energy evacuation stands at 60.4 MU, recorded on July 6, 2026.

The total electricity consumption stood at 459 MU on August 1, with wind and solar power together contributing 197 MU, accounting for about 42% of the State's total electricity consumption.

Power sector officials said the record-breaking performance was driven by sustained high wind speeds in the State's major wind belts, including Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Coimbatore, Tirupur and Kanniyakumari districts.

India Meteorological Department officials said the strengthening low-level Somali Jet has intensified the southwest monsoon circulation over the Indian peninsula, bringing strong southwesterly winds and widespread rainfall over Kerala and Karnataka, conditions that have also enhanced wind speeds across Tamil Nadu's wind corridors.

The surge in renewable energy generation enabled the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) to comfortably meet electricity demand while reducing reliance on conventional thermal generation and expensive power purchases from the power exchange. Officials said favourable southwest monsoon conditions are expected to sustain high wind generation over the coming days.

Maximum instantaneous wind generation

6,731 MW on Aug 2, 2026

6,558 MW on Jul 12, 2026

5,899 MW on Jul 30, 2024

Highest daily wind energy evacuation

142.43 MU on Aug 2, 2026

124.34 MU on Jul 3, 2026

123.85 MU on Aug 16, 2025

Addressing the media, DMK Advocates' Wing Joint Secretary and former MLA I Paranthaman said the Minister's remarks against late former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi were intended to divert the debate from the Cauvery issue. He warned that the party would initiate legal action against those making defamatory remarks against Karunanidhi.

Questioning the C Joseph Vijay-led government's handling of the issue, Paranthaman said it had failed to convene an all-party meeting, a practice adopted by previous Chief Ministers while dealing with inter-State river water disputes. He also alleged that the government had not disclosed the outcome of the Chief Minister's reported meeting with officials on the Cauvery and Mekedatu issues.

The DMK demanded that the government answer three questions within 24 hours: what steps it had taken to seek the constitution of a tribunal under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act to prevent the Mekedatu project; what decisions were taken at the Chief Minister's meeting on the Cauvery issue; and whether the Chief Minister's proposed visit to Karnataka was initiated by the Tamil Nadu government. If so, it asked the government to make the request letter public.

Paranthaman said the government's response would determine whether it was genuinely committed to protecting Tamil Nadu's interests, and warned that failure to respond would reinforce the perception among Cauvery delta farmers that the government had failed them.

Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam called off its protest over the prominence of Hindi signage after the Railways' decision to remove it.

The station’s facade, renovated under the Amrit Bharat scheme, had the station name displayed separately in Tamil, Hindi, and English. However, the Hindi lettering was positioned prominently in the centre, making it the most visible.

Its image was circulated on social media, with demands that the station name be displayed in Tamil, English and Hindi at the same location and that Tamil be retained in prominence. “Meanwhile, around midnight, an unidentified person came with black paint and poured it over the Hindi lettering on the newly installed signboard, before fleeing the scene,” police said.

On receiving information, the railway police rushed to the spot and launched an investigation. Following the incident, the railways also removed the Hindi signboard from the station building. Therefore, a protest announced by Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (TPDK) on Sunday evening over the issue was called off.