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

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.

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.

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.

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 promotions were ordered by Energy and Law Minister R Nirmal Kumar under the guidance of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, according to an official release.

The State government said the promotions were made on the basis of 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 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 certain actions were taken.

Based on a complaint lodged by S. Balasubramanian, District Secretary of the Thoothukudi North District, Kovilpatti, the Thoothukudi 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 Principal District and Sessions Court, Thoothukudi, 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 Tamil Nadu Legislative 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 the police, five members, including three men, two women and a child, were travelling in a car from Chennai to Tirunelveli on the National Highway. When the vehicle was passing over the flyover on the four-lane road near Thumbaipatti, the driver rammed into a two-wheeler travelling ahead of it.

The driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to cross over to the opposite side of the road and collide head-on with an incoming car travelling from Madurai towards Tiruchy.

In the impact, five occupants of the car died on the spot. The police identified four of the deceased as Sriman of Madipakkam, Chennai, Rajakumari, Ranja and three-year-old Pranika, all reported to belong to the same family. The identity of the fifth deceased, who was travelling with the family, is yet to be established, the police said.

Personnel from the Fire and Rescue Services Department, the police and the 108 ambulance service rescued two persons who sustained grievous injuries and rushed them to the Melur Government Hospital for treatment. Of the two injured survivors, one was a passenger in the Chennai car, while the other was travelling in the second car heading toward Tiruchy.

The accident caused severe traffic disruption in the area. The Melur police cleared the traffic, registered a case and are investigating the incident.

“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.

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.

Talking to reporters after appearing before the Triplicane police station in compliance with the conditions of his anticipatory bail, Senthilbalaji rejected allegations that he had gone into hiding. "I was never absconding. I was here all along. I did not run away as claimed by the minister Nirmalkumar. I have already spent more than a year in prison. I am not afraid of jail and I am ready to face not one or two, but any number of cases," he said.

The DMK leader said he had sought a five-day exemption from signing at the police station as he was consulting senior advocates and pursuing legal remedies before the Madras High Court and the Supreme Court.

Accusing the TVK government of targeting the Opposition, Senthilbalaji alleged that the administration was ignoring pressing public concerns, including the Mekedatu dispute and farmers' debt, while concentrating on filing cases against political rivals. He also accused minister R Nirmalkumar of evading questions and attempting to divert public attention.

Overnight crop raids by the elephant are leaving cultivators struggling to recover their losses, with many demanding higher compensation and a permanent solution to human-elephant conflict.

Farmers say they have learned to coexist with Bahubali and do not consider the elephant a direct threat to human lives. However, its repeated raids on agricultural fields are affecting their livelihoods, particularly those dependent on banana cultivation.

“The Forest Department provides compensation of around Rs 100 for each plantain plant damaged by an elephant. But during the Onam season, a kilogram of the ‘Kathali’ variety of banana fetches around Rs 80, and a single stem weighing nearly 10 kg can bring in about Rs 800. The compensation amount is far too low and should be increased,” said N. Subbaiyan, president of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, Mettupalayam taluk.

Farmers also complained that compensation payments are often delayed and involve a lengthy process. They said identifying the elephant responsible for crop damage is difficult, as most raids occur during the night.

“In one incident, an elephant damaged nearly 60 plantain plants in our farm within three months. We did not even apply for compensation because we were not confident of receiving a fair amount after going through the process,” Subbaiyan said.

He added that despite repeated demands from farmers, the compensation amount has remained unchanged for more than a decade. The uncertainty has forced several cultivators to reconsider banana farming. “Like many other farmers, we are gradually shifting from plantain cultivation to arecanut, as it is less vulnerable to elephant attacks,” said Subbaiyan, who owns farmland in Mettupalayam.

T Venugopal, president of the Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam, said farmers were looking beyond financial compensation and wanted a long-term solution to recurring elephant intrusions.

“Compensation alone cannot address the problem. Several measures taken by the government so far have not produced the desired results, and the compensation amount has also been reduced in recent times. Farmers have lost confidence that the elephant intrusion issue can be resolved,” he said.

According to farmers, growing uncertainty over crop losses has pushed some cultivators to sell their lands to real estate developers rather than continue farming along the forest boundary.

The reshuffle, expected soon after the Budget session concludes in September, is also likely to witness the redistribution of key portfolios, they said, adding that some of the recent inductees from AIADMK are also pushing hard for a place in the Cabinet once they win the yet-to-be-announced bypoll.

Sources said the exercise is being driven by a confidential performance review commissioned by the Chief Minister and prepared by Chief Secretary M Sai Kumar.

"The Chief Minister has sought a comprehensive report on every minister's performance. The reshuffle will be based entirely on those findings," a source said.

According to sources, Higher Education Minister P Viswanathan, Transport Minister A Vijay Tamilan Parthiban, Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Minister K Jagadeshwari, and Human Resources Management Minister D Sarathkumar are expected to be shown the door.

"Despite repeated warnings from the Chief Minister, serious allegations have continued to dog Viswanathan and Vijay Tamilan Parthiban. Jagadeshwari has come under scrutiny over allegations of violence involving party workers and alleged links with history sheeters, while Sarathkumar has faced allegations of consuming narcotic substances in a public place. These factors have weighed heavily in the leadership's assessment," multiple sources said.

The shake-up is also expected to alter the portfolios of Ministers S Keerthana and S Kamali of TVK, and S Rajesh Kumar of the Congress. While the changes involving Keerthana and Kamali are understood to stem from an internal assessment of their administrative performance and handling of departments, Rajesh Kumar is likely to be entrusted with a more prominent portfolio than Tourism.

Ally VCK's representative Vanni Arasu is also learnt to be in contention for a key berth, although the final call rests with Vijay.

Highly placed sources further indicated that the September exercise may only be the first phase, which is primarily administrative in nature. The next round will be more about pure politics, during which the leaders from AIADMK who quit their MLA post and joined the TVK will be accommodated. However, there is no clarity on bypoll date for these seats, as the matter is now with the Madras High Court.

Hence, the chief minister has decided to go ahead with the first phase of rejig after the budget session, and the next one after the polls, sources said. “Another Cabinet reshuffle is expected after the by-polls; C Vijayabaskar, MR Vijayabhaskar, and Maragatham Kumaravel are among those likely to be inducted," the sources added.

The IOD is a climate phenomenon characterised by contrasting sea surface temperatures across the equatorial Indian Ocean. During a positive IOD phase, the water near the western Indian Ocean, close to Africa, becomes warmer than average, while the eastern Indian Ocean waters, near Indonesia, become relatively cooler. This temperature contrast alters atmospheric circulation and influences rainfall patterns across the region.

Speaking to DT Next, Dr VR Durai, Director of the Regional Weather Forecasting Centre at the Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, said observations indicate that ocean temperature patterns over the Indian Ocean are gradually becoming favourable for the development of a positive IOD.

"A positive IOD is identified when the eastern parts of the Indian Ocean become about 0.5 to 0.6 degrees Celsius warmer than normal. We are now observing changes in sea surface temperatures over the eastern Indian Ocean, and there is a growing possibility that a positive IOD could develop," he said.

While a positive IOD would not completely offset the effects of the ongoing Super El Niño, which remains one of the strongest global climate events, it could increase the monsoon rainfall by around one to two per cent, helping the season remain closer to the normal range, said the atmospheric scientist.

"It will not fully nullify the impact of the Super El Niño, which is a massive climatic phenomenon. However, it can provide some relief by supporting better seasonal rainfall than what we would have expected under strong El Niño conditions," he said.

The looming possibility of a deficit monsoon was one of the major concerns for the agriculture sector in India, and by extension, for the governments at the State and central levels, and also businesses that look forward to beneficial – or at least near-normal – monsoon seasons. The Super El Niño condition accentuated the risks, as countries have faced catastrophic impacts whenever the phenomenon happened in the past.

Meanwhile, speaking about the recent heavy rainfall witnessed across Kerala and the Arabian Sea coastal area, he said the key reason for this was the strong cross-equatorial winds known as the Somali Jet, which are blowing at speeds of around 40 to 50 knots. “These low-level jet winds transport large amounts of moisture into the Arabian Sea and play a crucial role in strengthening the southwest monsoon," he explained.

"The decision could have been announced in July itself. However, developments in the national capital, including the CJP-led protests and the Parliament session, delayed the exercise. The reshuffle is now expected in August or September along with appointments in other states," sources familiar with the deliberations told DT Next.

Speculation over Ashvathaman's elevation intensified after he was recently summoned to New Delhi for consultations with the party's top leadership, a move many within the organisation interpreted as a clear indication of the high command's confidence in him.

The race, however, has other names as well. BJP Mahila Morcha national president Vanathi Srinivasan, Union Minister of State L Murugan and actor-politician R Sarathkumar, a member of the party's national general council, continue to figure prominently in internal discussions, each enjoying the backing of influential leaders.

"Nainar is backing Sarathkumar. Vice-President and former BJP leader CP Radhakrishnan, veterans Pon Radhakrishnan and H Raja are supporting Vanathi Srinivasan, while Tamilisai Soundararajan is backing L Murugan. Ashvathaman, however, has emerged as the consensus choice for a large section of the central leadership," a senior BJP leader told this correspondent.

When contacted, BJP chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy categorically dismissed the reports, describing the speculation over a change in the state leadership as baseless.

"There is no truth in these reports. No organisational changes are under consideration, and there is no proposal to replace the state leadership, at least in the near future," Narayanan told this newspaper.

But party insiders confirmed the impending leadership change, attributing it to the high-command's dissatisfaction with Nagenthran's stewardship following the Assembly elections.

"The leadership has taken serious note of allegations relating to election finances, including claims that funds earmarked for the campaign and money allegedly collected from ticket aspirants were misappropriated. Explanations have been sought and the matter is under internal scrutiny," another senior functionary said.

Another leader alleged that nearly Rs 400 crore meant for election-related activities, in addition to substantial collections from aspirants, had come under internal scrutiny. "National organisation general secretary BL Santhosh and Union Minister Piyush Goyal are unhappy with the developments. The leadership believes a change is essential to restore organisational credibility," the leader added.

Fondly called ‘Bahubali’ by people and identified by the Forest Department as MP 20T1, the tusker’s predictable habits and calm nature have helped it build an unusual relationship with villagers.

"Villagers have become so familiar with the elephant that they no longer panic when they see it. It rarely displays aggression unless provoked and does not charge at people without reason. The elephant has made Mettupalayam and Sirumugai as its home range in all these years," Forest Department officials said.

As the sun sets, Bahubali emerges from the forest and heads towards nearby farmlands in search of food. It remains there through the night, moving between fields and returning to the forest only in the early hours after satisfying its hunger.

Even when farmers or forest personnel attempt to drive it away, the elephant often retreats briefly before returning to another farm nearby. Its persistence has made it a familiar visitor to plantations growing bananas, sugarcane, coconuts, mangoes, and jackfruits.

The tusker’s movements have become so predictable that Forest Department personnel regularly manage traffic on the Mettupalayam-Ooty Road to allow it to cross safely. In a curious display of caution, Bahubali often waits until vehicles are stopped before calmly making its way across the busy road.

"Over the last 15 years, I have seen the elephant cross the road many times. It always waits for the vehicles to stop and has never harmed anyone," said P Sarath Kumar, an anti-poaching watcher with the Mettupalayam Forest Range.

To ensure the safety of both the elephant and road users, the Forest Department has assigned a dedicated squad comprising a forest guard, a watcher, and an anti-poaching watcher to monitor Bahubali’s movements during its regular morning and evening crossings.

The elephant’s familiarity with the landscape is matched by its remarkable memory. Officials say it knows exactly where to find its preferred food sources, returning repeatedly to farms and orchards that offer seasonal favourites.

"Mango and jackfruit are its first choices. Once that season ends, it shifts towards maize and plantain fields," a Forest Department official said.

In recent days, the tusker has shifted its base to the neighbouring Sirumugai Forest Range, attracted by the availability of plantain crops after the mango and jackfruit season ended in Mettupalayam orchards. Officials expect it to remain there for a few months before returning to its familiar Mettupalayam range.

Unlike many elephants that travel in groups, Bahubali prefers a solitary existence. Officials believe this unusual behaviour developed after earlier attempts to prevent other elephants accompanying it from becoming habitual crop raiders.

In the past, when other elephants migrated along with Bahubali, the Forest Department made considerable efforts to drive them away to prevent them from following the same crop-raiding pattern. Over time, officials observed that Bahubali appeared to associate the presence of other elephants with difficulty in its search for food and began avoiding companions.

“On several occasions, it has even chased away elephants attempting to join it,” said P Sarath Kumar.

While wild elephants typically travel more than 40 kilometres daily in search of food and water, Bahubali has confined its movements to a smaller area of around 20 kilometres, relying on its intimate knowledge of local farms and forest corridors.

“The tusker has entered Mettupalayam more than 900 times in the past six years. Of this, more than 430 intrusions were made in the last three years alone,” said another official of the forest department.

The elephant has also proved difficult for the Forest Department to monitor through conventional methods. Multiple attempts to radio-collar and capture it have failed, as the tusker quickly senses unfamiliar activity and retreats deep into the forest. "If Bahubali notices veterinarians or unfamiliar people approaching, it disappears into the forest and remains away for several days before returning," the official added.

Instead of reacting with fear, farmers nowadays keep watch over their fields and immediately alert the Forest Department when the elephant arrives.

As many as 18 workers were busy at work at a unit owned by Dharmalingam near Thalaivasal, when a electric short circuit triggered a fire at a room, where chlorin powder has been stocked in sacks.

Even as the workers rushed out, six among them suffered suffocation and fainted.

They were then rushed to a private hospital for treatment. The fire and rescue personnel managed to douse the fire while officials of the district administration reached the spot and held an inquiry.

In an apparent swipe at the DMK, Tagore also questioned who would be the next to join them in backing the move.

Responding to questions over whether Rahul really meant DMK, Tagore said the Leader of the Opposition had described the AIADMK, PMK and BJP as "Ettappans" because they supported the delimitation proposal. He also indirectly asked whether any other party would choose to join them, apparently referring to DMK, which softened its stance against the Bill.

On the Mekedatu dam and the Cauvery dispute, Tagore said Chief Minister Vijay had secured the unanimous support of all parties in the Assembly for a resolution opposing the project.

Tagore reiterated that the Congress would continue to oppose the proposed delimitation exercise, calling it "completely against Tamil Nadu." Referring to Parliament proceedings on April 17, he said all 40 MPs from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry had united to defeat the delimitation-related legislation in the Lok Sabha.

Tagore also recalled that political parties in Tamil Nadu had celebrated the Bill's defeat by tearing up copies of it and bursting crackers, and said he hoped the same united stand would continue.

He defended Rahul for not raising the Cauvery or Mekedatu issues during his Tamil Nadu visit; ultimately, what matters is that water has been released into the Cauvery due to rains in Karnataka's catchment areas. Rahul is a good omen. When he came, water started flowing. What else do you want? He responded to reporters.

Drawing a comparison with Karnataka, Tagore said all political parties there stood united in protecting their state's interests in the Cauvery issue, whereas parties in Tamil Nadu were allowing political considerations to override the State's interests.

He also targeted Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagenthran, urging him to learn from former Karnataka BJP Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, whom he said had consistently defended Karnataka's interests on the Cauvery issue. "You are in Tamil Nadu, but you are acting against Tamil Nadu's interests," Tagore alleged.

While DMK leader Dayanidhi Maran claimed it was Rahul who was Tamil Nadu's traitor for not taking up the Mekedatu or anti-NEET stance, Appavu took a divergent view.

"Is it true, CM sir, that political observers believe Rahul Gandhi indirectly criticised you, Joseph Vijay, as an 'Ettappan?" he wondered in a post on his X handle. Is it true that he is upset that the alliance party leader and Chief Minister Vijay, who is running a BJP-RSS-ideological government in Tamil Nadu with Congress support, did not meet him during his Chennai visit? He asked further.

Appavu alleged that even though the government is running with the support of some alliance parties, including the Congress, the TVK government remains in confusion because the Chief Minister is unable to finalise a clear direction for the alliance or name the coalition.

"Since the TVK candidates are those who entered the election by giving a party fund, and because he does not fully know who they are, the Chief Minister does not have full trust and coordination over the ministers and MLAs," he said.

He went on to level specific allegations against several sitting TVK cabinet ministers and party functionaries, accusing them of various offences including unauthorised foreign travel, financial irregularities, and public misconduct. Only to divert attention from taking action against them, the CM is filing false charges against DMK members, Appavu claimed on his X handle. 

According to the official order, Latha has been entrusted with the additional responsibility with immediate effect as a temporary administrative arrangement until the government appoints a full-time director. She will continue to serve as SCERT Director while simultaneously discharging the duties of the Director of School Education until further orders.

The department said the arrangement has been made in the interest of administrative efficiency to ensure the smooth functioning of the Directorate of School Education.

Kannappan retired from government service on Friday on attaining the age of superannuation after serving as the Director of School Education. Before assuming the post, he had served as the Director of Elementary Education.
The government is expected to appoint a full-time Director of School Education at a later date.

The response was to an RTI application filed by Coimbatore-based petitioner Yuvaraj Ramalingam, who sought statewide information on FL-2 licences issued under the Tamil Nadu Liquor (Licence and Permit) Rules, 1981, from January 2026 onwards. In its reply, the Prohibition and Excise Department disclosed only one statewide figure, stating that 868 FL-2 licences are currently functioning in Tamil Nadu.

For all other queries, including month-wise details of new FL-2 licences issued, renewals granted, licenses suspended or cancelled, district-wise break-ups, the number of applications received, approved and rejected, names of licence holders whose licences had been suspended, cancelled or revoked, along with their licence numbers, districts, dates of action and reasons recorded by the department, as well as category-wise details of cancellations and revocations, the department did not furnish the information. Instead, it directed the applicant to approach the respective District Deputy Commissioners (Excise).

 The Prohibition and Excise Department has directed Coimbatore-based petitioner Yuvaraj Ramalingam to approach the respective District Deputy Commissioners (Excise) to get details on FL-2 licenses

Questioning the response, Ramalingam stated, "Instead of providing statewide information, the department has asked me to approach the District Deputy Commissioners. Citizens should not have to approach multiple district offices to obtain information sought from the State Public Information Officer."

It is worth noting that the latest reply comes days after the applicant received a similar response to his RTI application seeking details of the 717 Tasmac shops that were shut following the TVK government's order in May. The department had reportedly told him to approach district offices instead of furnishing the information from the headquarters.

The prevailing weather is being influenced by a trough extending from north interior Karnataka to the Comorin area across south interior Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu at about 5.8 km above mean sea level, along with an offshore trough running from south Gujarat to north Kerala.

For Chennai, the weather office has forecast a partly cloudy sky with moderate rain, thunderstorms and lightning during the evening and night hours on August 3.

Across the State, heavy rain is likely at isolated places over the ghat areas of Coimbatore, the Nilgiris, Theni, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, and Cuddalore districts, besides Puducherry, on Monday. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph are also likely over several parts of Tamil Nadu.

Moderate rain is expected at a few places over the remaining Western Ghats districts, north coastal districts, the Delta region and Karaikal, while the rest of Tamil Nadu is likely to receive light to moderate rainfall.

Rainfall activity is expected to continue through the week, though with reduced intensity. From August 4 to 8, moderate rain is likely at isolated places over the Western Ghats, north coastal districts, Puducherry and Karaikal, while light rain is expected over the remaining parts of the State.

Meanwhile, the State witnessed scattered rainfall on Sunday. Upper Bhavani in the Nilgiris recorded the highest rainfall at 213 mm, followed by Chinnakalar (160 mm), Sholayar (120 mm), and Valparai (100 mm). Several parts of Ranipet, the Nilgiris and Coimbatore also received significant rainfall.

Maximum temperatures, which remained 2-4 degrees Celsius above normal at many places on Sunday, are likely to fall by 2-3 degrees Celsius over parts of south Tamil Nadu during the next two days.

The victim's mother, Swathi, had been living with the accused, Vigneshwaran, for the past four months after separating from her husband following a family dispute, police said.

The accused, K Vigneshwaran (27) of Parapatti near Sivakasi, allegedly killed the three-year-old girl, Vishnupriya, by smashing her head against the floor after repeatedly assaulting her, police said. Investigators found clumps of hair missing from the child's scalp when they examined the body at the house. When questioned about it, the accused allegedly confessed that he had pulled out her hair before attacking her, police said.

Police said he had also allegedly assaulted Swathi before attacking the child.

Swathi (22), from Chinnakolampatti, worked as a daily-wage labourer at a fireworks manufacturing unit. She had married Duraipandi of Sattur several years ago, and the couple had a daughter, Vishnupriya. However, they separated a few months ago following family disputes. She later moved with her daughter to her mother's house in Chinnakolampatti.

While working at a fireworks manufacturing unit at Keelathailpatti, she became acquainted with Vigneshwaran, and the two later entered into a relationship, police sources said.

Vigneshwaran later rented a house at Pasumpon Nagar near Thiruthangal, where the two began living together four months ago. Since then, Swathi stopped going to work and was taking care of her child.

Police said the accused got angry whenever the child woke up crying during the night. He even attacked and threatened the child in the last two months.

After the child lost consciousness following the assault yesterday night, the duo rushed Vishnupriya to a private hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

After the duo brought the child back home, Vigneshwaran allegedly fled after handing over his mobile phone to Swathi. She immediately sought help from neighbours and informed the police.

On receiving information, personnel from the Sivakasi East Police Station rushed to the spot, recovered the child's body and sent it to the Virudhunagar Government Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination. Based on a complaint, police registered a case, arrested Vigneshwaran and launched a further investigation.

The heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of Kerala and the Nilgiris led to a sharp increase in inflow into the dam, which is currently just three feet short of reaching its full reservoir capacity of 100 feet.

The water level in the dam rose to 97 feet early Sunday morning, and the entire surplus inflow was discharged by opening four sluices to maintain its maximum capacity of 97 feet. At 3.30 am, around 8,000 cusecs were released from the dam, resulting in flooding in the Bhavani River.

Following an increase in water flow, the district administration has appealed to people living along the riverbank in Mettupalayam, Sirumugai, and other low-lying areas to move to safety. The villagers were also warned against bathing, washing clothes and fishing in the flooded waters.

The new procedure has been notified through a Gazette dated July 23, by the Natural Resources Department, amending the Tamil Nadu Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1959.

Until now, quarry operators were permitted to dispose of weathered rocks, formed due to prolonged exposure to climatic conditions, without any structured verification mechanism. The amended rules introduce a scientific assessment process before any such material is cleared from quarry sites.

Until now, quarry operators were permitted to dispose of weathered rocks, formed due to prolonged exposure to climatic conditions, without any structured verification mechanism

According to the notification, whenever a mineral concession holder proposes to dispose of weathered rough stone identified in the approved mining plan, a report analysing its mineral composition must first be obtained from the laboratory of the Directorate of Geology and Mining.

"Whenever a mineral concession holder proposes to dispose of the 'weathered rough stone' reported in the approved mining plan, a report on the analysis of the mineral constituents of weathered rock by the laboratory of the Directorate of Geology and Mining shall be submitted," the notification said.

If laboratory analysis establishes the presence of high-value minerals, the material can be disposed of only in accordance with the provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, and the Tamil Nadu Minor Mineral Concession Rules, after payment of the applicable seigniorage fee. However, if no valuable minerals attracting a higher seigniorage fee are detected, the material may be disposed of as ordinary weathered rough stone.

The amendments also revise the definition of building and road construction materials/stones other than granite to explicitly include weathered rough stone, khandas, boulders, size-reduced materials such as broken and crushed stone, metal jelly, ballast, millstone and hand chakkais.

If laboratory analysis establishes the presence of high-value minerals, the material can be disposed of only in accordance with the provisions of the existing rules and law after paying of the applicable seigniorage fee

The IID will continue to identify misinformation and manipulated content, verify claims against official records, publish evidence-based fact checks and work to contain the spread of false information. Prasanna has been named the IID lead, while Sujitha will serve as the public relations officer.

The government has also introduced a ticket-based tracking system under which every fact-check request will receive a unique ID to ensure transparency and accountability. Departments have been directed to respond within fixed timelines, with high-priority claims to be addressed within an hour.

Separately, TVK IT wing coordinator Dhivya has been appointed special officer of the social media desk under the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), where she will oversee quality clearance of content before publication.

The previous DMK government had established the Tamil Nadu Fact Check Unit on October 6, 2023, appointing Iyan Karthikeyan, former editor-in-chief of fact-check platform YouTurn, as its mission director.

The convict, M Muniyasamy of Aruppukottai, trespassed into his neighbour's house on April 8, 2023, lured the Class 3 student with candies, and assaulted her. He threatened to kill her if she informed her parents. However, the child informed her mother. She filed a complaint with AWPS police on August 25^th 2023 and police immediately arrested him under the Pocso Act.

Delivering the verdict on July 31, Special Judge Muthukumaravel sentenced Muniyasamy to 20 years RI under the Pocso Act, 2 years RI for criminal intimidation (Sec 506-i IPC), and 3 months RI for criminal trespass (Sec 447 IPC). A total fine of Rs 12,500 was imposed. Since the sentences will run concurrently, the convict will undergo 20 years of actual imprisonment. 

According to a Daily Thanthi report, a weak atmospheric trough prevailing over the lower levels of the atmosphere along the Tamil Nadu coast is expected to influence weather conditions across the State.

Very heavy rain warning for three districts

The RMC has forecast heavy to very heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds with speeds of 40-50 kmph at isolated places in the hilly areas of Coimbatore district, the Nilgiris and Theni districts on Saturday.

Heavy rainfall has also been predicted for the hilly regions of Tirupur district and Dindigul district.

Meanwhile, moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds is likely at isolated places in Chennai, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Salem and Erode districts, besides Puducherry. Light rain with thunderstorms is expected over the remaining parts of Tamil Nadu and Karaikal.

Rain to continue for a week

The weather office has forecast light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms in the Western Ghats districts, north coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal on August 2 and 3. Similar conditions are expected to continue in isolated places across the rest of the State.

From August 4 to 7, moderate rainfall is likely in districts along the Western Ghats, while light rain has been forecast for several other parts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal.

Chennai likely to receive evening showers

For Chennai and its suburbs, the RMC has predicted partly cloudy skies on August 1 and 2, with light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning likely in a few areas during the evening or night.

The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 37-38 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature is likely to remain between 27 and 28 degrees Celsius.

The weather office also said maximum temperatures across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal could dip by up to 2 degrees Celsius in a few places on Saturday, although temperatures in parts of north Tamil Nadu are likely to remain 2-3 degrees Celsius above normal through August 3.

Fishermen advised not to venture into sea

The RMC has warned of squally winds with speeds ranging between 40 kmph and 55 kmph, gusting up to 65 kmph, over the south Tamil Nadu coast, Gulf of Mannar, Comorin area, south Bay of Bengal and parts of the Arabian Sea over the coming days.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the notified sea areas between August 1 and August 5 due to rough weather conditions.

The deceased were identified as Kanagaraj (45), an employee of a private firm, his wife Poorani alias Uma Maheswari (39), their elder daughter Aarthi (25), a graduate, younger daughter Narmadha (20), a third-year physiotherapy student, and their relative Raman (35), all residents of Madukkarai area in Coimbatore.

The police said the family was returning from a temple near Udumalpet in Tiruppur district when the accident occurred. Kanagaraj, who was driving the car, lost control of the vehicle and rammed into the rear of a stationary water tanker near Nallampalli Pirivu.

The tanker had been parked along the road to water plants on the highway median. The car was completely mangled in the impact, fatally injuring all five occupants. A police team from Gomangalam police station retrieved the bodies from the wreckage and sent them to the Government Hospital, Pollachi, for post-mortem examination. The accident temporarily disrupted traffic on the busy highway before the police cleared the area. The Gomangalam Police have registered a case and are investigating.

Mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing are key sources of livelihood for farmers in Palani, Ayakudi, Kanakkampatti, Sathirapatti, Thalaiyuthu, Thoppampatti, and Shanarpatti. Despite facing climatic challenges in recent years, farmers have continued cocoon production in the hope of sustaining their income.

This season, however, farmers said substandard eggs and underdeveloped young silkworms have resulted in poor cocoon formation, leading to a sharp decline in production and mounting financial losses, said a Daily Thanthi report.

BURNING THE SILKWORMS

In Kanakkampatti near Palani, a farmer was forced to dump silkworms that failed to produce cocoons after suffering significant production losses. Similar incidents have been reported from other cocoon-producing areas, where farmers have either discarded the worms or burned them as they could no longer be reared.

Farmers said the current setback is largely due to the poor quality of silkworm eggs and larvae rather than prevailing summer temperatures.

They have urged officials of the central and State Sericulture Departments to inspect the affected farms, identify the reasons behind the failure of the worms to develop properly, and provide technical assistance to prevent further losses.

They have also appealed to the authorities to revise the existing insurance scheme to provide better protection against production failures and financial distress.

In a condolence message, Vijay said he was deeply saddened by the news and extended his heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family.

“I am deeply saddened and distressed to learn of the passing of KMK Khalilur Rahman due to illness,” the Chief Minister said.

Conveying his condolences, Vijay said, “I extend my deepest sympathies to KM Kader Mohideen, who is grieving the loss of his beloved son, and to his family, relatives and the leaders and cadre of the Indian Union Muslim League.”

Dayanidhi Maran didn't name anyone in his statement, but it contained enough keywords to link it to the recent State visit of Rahul and his 'Ettappans' remark, made yesterday during an interaction with the media in Chennai, as the DMK parliamentarian also dragged NEET into it. Rahul's press meet was held after an interaction with medical aspirants in Mahabalipuram. Those who spoke only about alleged irregularities in NEET without demanding the examination’s abolition were a great betrayal for Tamil Nadu, which always stood for its scrapping, Dayanidhi added.

Visiting but not speaking up for the State’s rights over the Cauvery river, or opposing the Mekedatu project, is a real betrayal of the people, he said.

Dayanidhi alleged that those who condemned the BJP’s alleged horse-trading but ignored similar practices by the TVK were displaying double standards. He further accused the TVK government of suppressing dissent by arresting individuals for social media posts critical of the administration and alleged that the State Police had used excessive force against students protesting against NEET.

“After hearing political lessons delivered during a recent visit to Tamil Nadu, all these betrayals came to my mind. How many betrayals can there be?” Maran remarked.