During the Zero Hour at the Assembly on Friday, Opposition members, including AIADMK floor leader Edappadi K Palaniswami, PMK member A Ganeshkumar, DMK member Thangam Thennarasu and Congress member Tharahai Cuthbert, raised the issue.

They said fishermen had been severely affected by the mass death of fish and urged the government to take precautionary measures and provide necessary relief packages to the affected fishermen.

In his response, minister VK Rajeev said preliminary reports based on field visits to five locations, including the Ennore Estuary, indicated that chemical substances from factories were not responsible for the incident.

"Around 2,150 kg of fish had died. The government assessed that human waste was the reason behind the die-off. When human waste mixes with river or canal water, the dissolved oxygen level decreases.

The Pollution Control Board team found that dissolved oxygen levels had fallen below 2 mg, against the normal level of 4 mg, at two locations where the die-off occurred," the minister said.

He said the government-constituted probe panel will submit its report within 10 days.

Thousands of fish and other aquatic animals had washed up dead along the Kosasthalaiyar river near the Ennore Estuary since last Saturday (August 15) morning.

The fishing community had alleged thermal pollution from the hot water discharge of NTECL Vallur as a possible cause for the die-off.

What is the estimated cost of the Ennore-Mamallapuram road project?

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the Tamil Nadu Highways Department is executing the 132.87-km Chennai Peripheral Road from Ennore to Mamallapuram at an estimated cost of Rs 17,958 crore. The project is being implemented in five packages.

As part of the first phase, work is under way on the 25-km stretch between Kattupalli and Panchetti, and officials are reviewing its progress. One package covering the 26.10-km stretch between Thatchur and the Tiruvallur bypass has already been completed.

Which district of Tamil Nadu is decided for land acquisition?

The government has now decided to acquire certain wet and dry agricultural lands in the Eekadu Kandigai area of Tiruvallur district under the Tamil Nadu Highways Act.

The Highways Department has issued a notification inviting objections from landowners. Those with objections can submit them in writing within 30 days at the SIDCO branch office premises in the Ambattur Industrial Estate, Chennai.

The authorities are also reviewing various requirements and support needed by the contractor executing the Ennore-Mamallapuram road project.

Officials said the remaining works are expected to be completed and opened to traffic within a year. They added that several major roads in Chennai are also planned to be upgraded into world-class six-lane roads to significantly ease traffic congestion.

The main reason cited for the unprecedented rise in sugar prices is the hoarding of sugar by factories in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, which supply sugar to Tamil Nadu. The situation has been attributed to a significant decline in sugarcane production in the two states due to irregular monsoon rains.

How is E20 petrol increasing demand for sugarcane?

Adding to the pressure on sugarcane supplies, the increase in crude oil prices has led to greater demand for ethanol, which is extracted from sugarcane to produce E-20 petrol.

Will the festive season push up sugar demand further?

Meanwhile, the approaching festive season is expected to further increase demand for sugar. Sugar mills are stockpiling sugar in anticipation of increased demand for making sweets during festivals such as Vinayagar Chaturthi, Navratri and Diwali, the report added.

Due to the alleged hoarding, sugar, which was sold at Rs 45 per kg last month, is now being sold at Rs 67 per kg.

What are the wholesalers' concerns over sugar stocks and prices?

Amid the rising prices and concerns over low sugar stocks in India, grocery wholesalers have urged the government to take immediate action against those involved in sugar hoarding.

“The government should take immediate action and control sugar hoarding. Moreover, since the sugar stock in India is low, the sugar price will be brought under control only if sugar is imported from abroad,” said Samuel Raj, a wholesaler from Koyambedu.

The Left party will hold protests across the State on Saturday (August 22), demanding action against the Chief Secretary, whom it accused of targeting Left student movements and misusing government machinery to curb students’ democratic protests, CPM state secretary P Shanmugam said on Friday. The Left leader called the Chief Secretary unfit to lead the State administration and demanded action against the official.

The protest marks a sharp escalation by the CPM, which has extended support to the government from outside. By directly questioning the role of the top bureaucrat and seeking his removal, the party has put the government in a politically sensitive position and demanded that Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay clarify whether the alleged actions had his approval.

In a statement, Shanmugam alleged that the government’s communication directing colleges to act against student participation in protests organised by Left parties exposed the Chief Secretary’s “ideological bias”. He said the move reflected an “authoritarian mindset” aimed at curbing students’ right to protest.

“The issue may have been presented as one concerning left-wing movements, but the contents of the communication seek to suppress the democratic rights of students. This is dangerous,” Shanmugam said.

He questioned whether the action had been taken with the approval of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and alleged that it appeared to have been modelled on the style of the Union government of the right-wing BJP.

Though the Directorate of Collegiate Education had withdrawn its circular, the decision taken at the law and order review meeting and the subsequent communication issued by the Special Secretary to the Tamil Nadu government remained in force, Shanmugam said.

He disputed claims that only the Directorate of Collegiate Education had acted on the directive. The Special Secretary’s communication had been sent to the Directorate of Collegiate Education, Directorate of Technical Education and universities, and was subsequently forwarded to colleges through the Registrar of the University of Madras, he said.

The fact that an action taken report was sought with instructions marked “top priority” and “most immediate” showed the seriousness with which the decision had been implemented, Shanmugam said. “There is no use targeting only the arrows while leaving the person who shot them,” he said.

He also rejected the Higher Education Minister’s explanation in the Assembly that certain words in the circular had been used inadvertently. “The entire content was objectionable. The government has to explain whether campus peace means suppressing student protests,” he said.

The CPM also linked the issue to the Gujiliamparai tehsildar controversy, questioning the Revenue Minister’s statement in the Assembly that action was being taken against the official for allegedly attempting to collect information on Left activists.

Shanmugam pointed out that the district Collector’s note stated that the tehsildar had been relieved after completing training to join the Disaster Management Commissionerate. “Can relieving an official after training to join another post be called an action under the TVK government?” he asked.

The CPM said the repeated targeting of Left organisations could not be dismissed as coincidental and demanded that the Chief Minister and the government clarify their position.

The party demanded action against the Chief Secretary, alleging that he was unfit to continue in the post, and sought proper action against the Gujiliamparai Tahsildar.

The CPM has appealed to all sections of society to support its protests across all districts on August 22.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The matter will come up for hearing after three weeks.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

EPS flags fish deaths

According to a Daily Thanthi report, AIADMK general secretary and Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami moved a special call-attention motion in the Assembly over the mass fish deaths in the Ennore Kosasthalai River.

Palaniswami said fish were found dead in large numbers due to waste allegedly entering the river. He said fishermen in the area had attributed the deaths to industrial waste being discharged into the water.

He also said the pollution was affecting the livelihood of fishermen and urged the government to intervene immediately and protect their interests.

Industrial waste under scanner

Former minister Thangam Thennarasu said the Kosasthalai River and its estuary in North Chennai, which are vital to the city, have been continuously polluted by industrial waste.

He said fish deaths had become a recurring issue in the area, severely affecting the livelihood of fishermen. Thennarasu urged the government to declare the Kosasthalai River region an ecological zone and take immediate measures to protect it.

PMK MLA Ganesh Kumar also alleged that waste from thermal power plants and chemical industries was entering the river, resulting in fish deaths.

Call for action on polluters

Ganesh Kumar said the fish deaths were not a one-off incident and called for a separate authority to monitor the river and prevent further environmental damage.

He also urged the government to take action against industries found to be causing environmental pollution and ensure that the Kosasthalai River and the surrounding fishing communities are protected.

The tender has been floated for the flagship welfare scheme, which is scheduled to be launched on September 15. Under the scheme, every child born in government hospitals and primary health centres across the State will receive a one-gram gold ring along with essential baby-care items.

One-paisa quote for additional charges

The tender was floated for the procurement and supply of gold rings under the scheme. Joyalukkas Jewellery, which emerged as the L1 bidder, reportedly quoted just one paisa towards making charges, apart from other costs associated with the rings.

The one-paisa quote covers additional charges including making charges, hallmarking, packing, insurance and transportation, while the actual cost of the gold is excluded.

The scheme was announced by the Tamil Nadu government after the Assembly elections and is aimed at encouraging institutional deliveries and providing support to mothers who give birth at government healthcare facilities.

The government is expected to finalise the tender process before the scheme's proposed launch on September 15.

The study, titled Governance Framework for Airshed-Level Air Quality Management in South India, proposed a coordination framework for the five southern states.

For Tamil Nadu, 61 per cent of annual average pollution originates within the south Indian region. Of this, 81 per cent originates from within the state, with the remaining 8 per cent from Kerala, 5 per cent from Andhra Pradesh, 4 per cent from Karnataka and 2 per cent from Telangana.

The study identifies Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh as net contributors, contributing more pollution to other states than they receive. Regionally, the share of annual average pollution originating within south India ranges from 38 per cent (Telangana) to 65 per cent (Kerala), with Andhra Pradesh at 44 per cent and Karnataka at 47 per cent. Kerala and Telangana are net receivers; Karnataka both receives and exports moderate amounts, partly due to its central location.

“The movement varies by season, with meteorological conditions determining the direction of transport,” said Dr Nirav Lekinwala, Senior Associate in CSTEP’s Air Quality sector and study co-author. During pre-monsoon (March-May), Tamil Nadu contributes pollution to Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and particularly to Kerala and Karnataka in January-February. "We also receive pollution from them during the monsoon, though lower due to rains, while post-monsoon (October-December) transport is more uniform."

The findings come amid 25 non-attainment cities in south India under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) failing to meet national ambient air-quality standards for particulate matter. CSTEP argues NCAP’s city-centric approach fails to address pollution transported across jurisdictions.

The proposed mechanism would help the five states coordinate responses rather than act separately, through a phased pathway with shared arrangements for emissions inventories, monitoring and financing.

Domestic, industrial and open-burning sources are the three largest local sources of pollution for the five states. For transported PM2.5, domestic, energy and industrial sources are the three largest contributors. The main sources for open burning were identified as municipal waste burning and landfill fires.

The study recommends an approved fuel framework, coordinated phasing out of older vehicles, and a regional EV charging plan that would coordinate the placement and connectivity of charging infrastructure across borders, electric freight movement and reduced range anxiety on highways.

Addressing the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council near Chennai, CM Vijay highlighted that southern states have been at the forefront of population control, human development, and economic growth. Expressing a shared concern among these states, he noted that a delimitation exercise based predominantly on population could diminish their collective voice in Parliament.

“Public policy must not inadvertently penalise states for fulfilling national objectives,” Vijay stressed, seeking an assurance to preserve the federal balance.

On fiscal federalism, the Chief Minister stated that southern states seek fair and equitable treatment respecting fiscal autonomy rather than preferential treatment, alongside greater flexibility in determining GST rates.

On inter-state water disputes, particularly Cauvery and Mullaiperiyar, he urged that the rights of lower-riparian states be protected and tribunal awards implemented in letter and spirit.

Reiterating the State’s opposition to NEET, Vijay requested permission for Tamil Nadu to fill all seats under the state quota in MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH courses solely based on Class 12 marks, arguing that the competitive exam disadvantages rural and economically weaker students. He also called for stronger inter-state coordination to tackle drug trafficking and proposed common economic clusters across the region, reminding the council that southern states contribute over 30% of India’s GDP. The meeting was chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and attended by chief ministers and representatives from neighbouring states.

Meanwhile, the DMK strongly criticised Vijay, alleging that he had executed a somersault on the delimitation issue following his meeting with Amit Shah. Speaking to reporters at Anna Arivalayam, DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran questioned the Chief Minister over the resolution previously passed by the State Assembly, which insisted that the number of Lok Sabha constituencies remain frozen at 543 based on the 1971 Census.

Maran asked whether Vijay had changed his position, shifted his political alignment from the Congress to the BJP, or acted out of fear after meeting the Union Home Minister. The opposition party demanded that the TVK leader clarify his actual stand on the upcoming delimitation process.

Food and Civil Supplies Department Minister P Venkataramanan announced in the House on Thursday that such flexibility is being made available to buy from any ration shop, not just the one the card is registered with.

Replying to the debate over grant demands for the department, he said that beneficiaries could use a soft copy of their ration card or simply provide the card number to obtain commodities. "It is not mandatory to get commodities from the fair price shop to which the ration card is attached. They can buy them from any ration shop across the State," he said.

Family members whose names and biometric details are registered with the ration card can also obtain commodities through fingerprint or iris authentication, the minister said.

Tamil Nadu has 38,438 fair price shops, he said, adding that the government was taking steps to procure more fine varieties of rice. The department had also obtained land belonging to the Dharmapuram Adheenam for use as paddy storage godowns, Venkataramanan said.

He said full-time fair price shops would be established in urban areas when 800 families were attached to a shop, and in rural areas when the number reached 500. Part-time shops would be considered where 150 families were attached.

The minister's remarks on alleged bribes at paddy procurement centres, however, triggered protests from DMK members.

Former minister Govi Chezhiaan alleged that farmers were being made to pay Rs 50 to Rs 60 per bag at procurement centres and questioned whether the government was willing to admit that such practices continued under the present regime.

Former minister K N Nehru said such payments were still being collected. "Whoever takes the bribe, people know," he said.

Minister Aadhav Arjuna said the issue was about farmers and not politics. He said even DMK MLA K Poondi Kalaivanan had raised the issue of bribes during the previous regime.

He also alleged that farmer organisations had complained of interference by local-body representatives and political functionaries at procurement centres.

"Political interference exists at paddy procurement centres. Our stand is that it should not be there," Arjuna said.

Venkataramanan said the TVK government was taking action wherever irregularities were corrected.

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal, who addressed the meeting, warned party functionaries that positions and electoral seats would be given only to those who actively worked for the party and urged them to work towards making Rahul Gandhi the next PM. “Some people are showing indifference towards party work. In the coming days, responsibility and positions will be given only to members who actually work,” he said.

He said the Congress should work with clarity towards making Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister in 2029 and called upon the Tamil Nadu unit to prepare for the goal.

The resolution was adopted on the day Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar was in Tamil Nadu to attend the South Zone Chief Ministers’ meeting amid TVK members hailing Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay as the next PM.

The Congress said Cauvery water sharing should be implemented in accordance with the 2007 final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the 2018 Supreme Court judgment. It alleged that Karnataka had continued to deny Tamil Nadu its rightful share of Cauvery water despite the legal orders.

Opposing Karnataka’s proposal to construct a 67.15 TMC capacity dam at Mekedatu, the council said the project could affect Tamil Nadu’s share of Cauvery water and have serious consequences for the Cauvery Delta. It assured support for all steps taken by the Tamil Nadu government to safeguard the state’s water rights and prevent the construction of the dam.

The council also passed a resolution seeking the retention of the existing 543 Lok Sabha constituencies, based on the 1971 Census, for another 25 years, along with a 33 per cent reservation for women.

Another resolution welcomed a new era of coalition politics and Congress’s participation in the government led by TVK leader and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

Taking a swipe at the DMK’s criticism that the Congress had “backstabbed” it after the elections, Venugopal said the Congress would never cheat or stab anyone in the back.

“If we had not supported Vijay, President’s Rule would have come. Or the indirect rule arranged by the BJP would have come into effect,” he said.

S Rohini of Tiruchendur taluk in Thoothukudi district said in her complaint that she had been serving as a TVK executive committee member for the past one year. She alleged that TVK cadre Roosevelt and Thoothukudi town secretary Nivash Kannan had promised to get her an important post in the party and then allegedly harassed her by sending obscene messages through WhatsApp.

Though she filed a complaint with the party district secretary, no action was taken against them. Hence, she lodged another complaint at the Thoothukudi DSP’s office on August 13. Based on the complaint, the police registered a case and arrested one person, Sibas.

However, Rohini alleged that no appropriate action had been taken against Roosevelt, Nivash Kannan, Brighten, Maharajan and Borjia, among others. She also said that Roosevelt was absconding.

She further alleged that Roosevelt’s relatives had been issuing death threats to her over the phone and through other persons. She also alleged that there was pressure on her to withdraw the police complaint.

Hence, she approached the IG’s office seeking immediate action against those concerned and adequate police protection for herself and her child, citing the threat to their lives.

A police source said that two persons had already been arrested in connection with the case and that the police would look into her fresh complaint.

During the discussion on the demands for grants for the Cooperative and Food Safety departments, DMK MLA Poondi K Kalaivanan said the Justice Party had created opportunities for people to enter the Assembly and changed the system under which only taxpayers were allowed to vote.

Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu intervened and said Dr BR Ambedkar was responsible for establishing the principle of “one vote, one value” for every citizen.

Kalaivanan then said the Dravidian movement had played a major role in securing rights for women. He also pointed to the larger number of women MLAs elected from the DMK to the Assembly.

Minister Keerthana countered that women’s rights had existed only on paper earlier and claimed that Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had ensured women’s rights in the Legislative Assembly.

Former minister SP Velumani intervened and said it was former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa who introduced 50 per cent reservation for women in local bodies.

Congress MLA Tharahai Cuthbert said former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had reduced the voting age from 21 to 18, thereby expanding voting rights.

The exchange continued with members highlighting the contributions of different political leaders and movements to electoral and women’s rights.

Meanwhile, Kalaivanan urged the government not to completely discontinue the practice of collecting land tax from landholders. He said a system of collecting land revenue had continued since the British era and appealed to the government to retain a nominal levy on land.

The issue came up after Revenue Minister KA Sengottaiyan had recently announced during the demands for grants for the Revenue Department that the government had decided to discontinue the decades-old practice.

Responding to Kalaivanan’s appeal, Sengottaiyan reiterated in the Assembly that the government remained firm on its decision to discontinue the practice.

Danapal (72), a resident of Tennur in Tiruchy, was running a stone quarry in Karur by contract. On August 17, Danapal received a call from an unknown person who introduced himself as an official from the mines department and informed him that the contract period for the quarry had lapsed and so he needed to renew the contract.

The caller further insisted Danapal deposit a sum of Rs 2 lakh in a particular account shared by the miscreant. Believing the words, Danapal, in a hurry, sent the sum of Rs 2 lakh even without verifying his contract deal document.

After sending the money, Danapal tried to contact the particular number, but it was out of use. Realising that he was cheated, Danapal lodged a complaint with the Tiruchy Cyber Crime Police. A case has been registered and a search for the culprit is under way.

Fourteen accused, including Prema, Muthurani and Kavitha, sought anticipatory bail, while the arrested Deputy Collector-rank officer Anbalagan and Rajkumar sought regular bail.

The prosecution opposed the pleas, arguing that the investigation was at an early stage and that custodial interrogation was necessary to unravel the case.

After hearing all sides, Justice Murali Shankar reserved orders.

The Division Bench comprising Justices CV Karthikeyan and R Sakthivel issued this direction in a petition filed by advocate Selvakumar of Managiri, Madurai, seeking a uniform procedure for contracting out government buses for the annual event.

The petitioner had contended that while government buses were provided on contract for educational institutions, factories, weddings, and religious and social events, applications for buses for the Emmanuel Sekaran Guru Puja were allegedly kept pending or rejected altogether.

When the petition came up for hearing before the court, the government counsel informed the judge that 100 buses were available from the Kumbakonam division, 40 from the Madurai division and 40 from the Tirunelveli division. If the petitioner submits a proper application, the government will provide the buses, the counsel said.

Recording the submissions, the judges directed the authorities to provide sufficient buses if the petitioner sought them on a contract basis. The court also directed that two police officers be assigned to each bus.

The court further directed that people should not travel on the roof of buses or hang from the steps and ordered them to strictly follow safety regulations. The authorities were directed to file a report on compliance with the court's directions, and the case was adjourned.

In response to the debate over grant demands, Venkataramanan said the new DPCs would bring the total to 889. Each centre will have infrastructure, including roads, drinking water, toilets, weighbridges and moisture meters, with the 100 centres to be built at a cost of Rs 81 crore through the Rural Development Department.

The government will construct 15 warehouses with a combined capacity of 31,000 metric tonnes in 13 districts - Chengalpattu, Pudukkottai, Karur, Coimbatore, Tenkasi, Kallakurichi, Tirunelveli, Namakkal, Thanjavur, Salem, Cuddalore, Kancheepuram and Sivaganga - at a cost of Rs 81.60 crore.

Worker rest rooms will be established at 10 Tamil Nadu State Warehousing Corporation complexes at Rs 1.89 crore, including a toilet-equipped facility at Batlagundu, while a compound wall will be constructed at Ariyalur.

An AI-based mobile application, costing Rs 1 crore, will be developed to assess the quality of rice, wheat, tur dal, sugar and other food commodities. Another 150 fair-price shops will be created by bifurcating outlets with more than 1,500 ration cards.

For elderly and differently abled beneficiaries facing difficulties with fingerprint and iris authentication, face-authentication-enabled PoS machines will be provided to 150 fair-price shops at a total cost of Rs 59 lakh.

The department will create a Unified Monitoring Web Portal that integrates the Civil Supplies Corporation, the Commissionerate of Civil Supplies, the Registrar of Cooperative Societies, and the Civil Supplies CID for data sharing, real-time monitoring, and coordination.

QR-code tagging of rice bags will ensure traceability from mills to fair-price shops, while GIS mapping and vehicle-location tracking will strengthen supply-chain monitoring.

In a meeting on the next course of action on crop loan waiver held in Tiruchy, representatives from over 15 associations, including Tamil Nadu Farmers Protection Association, Uzhavar Urimai Iyakkam, Desiya Thennindhiya Nadhigal Inaippu Sangam, Cauvery-Vaigai-Gundar irrigation farmers association, Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, Vaigai Vivasayigal Sangam and International Social Workers Council, took part, in which the leaders proposed intensifying the protest against the government. They have decided to hold the protest in Chennai from September 1 while the assembly session is under way.

Speaking to reporters, Easan Murugesan said, “The crop loan has been revised three times, disappointing farmers every single time. While the government has an adequate fund to purchase new cars for the legislators and provides Rs 1 lakh for its expenses, it refuses a crop loan waiver, citing fund crunch. This government does not care about the farmers."

He noted that farmers have been demanding the government to scrap schemes that are useful for corporates but not farmers. “We understand a few officials are misguiding the Chief Minister, C Joseph Vijay, and we condemn their attitude. The protest will be held at Rajarathinam Stadium in Egmore. We will never leave Chennai until the crop loan waiver as per the poll promise is announced," Murugesan said.

He also said that at least 50 farmers from various associations would be on an indefinite hunger strike while 2000 farmers would take part in the peaceful protest each day. “Even if the government does not permit us to stage a protest at the specific place, we will approach the court and get permission. We need the loan waiver announcement by this assembly session itself; otherwise, we would decide on the further course of action," he said.

Noting that as many as eight ministers assured them of fulfilling the poll promise when they protested in Chennai on August 7, he said, but they cheated the farmers.

The Government Model School in Kuppur, near Omalur in Salem district, has come under scrutiny over the controversial decision. “An inquiry is underway into the appointment of teachers from other states. We have also sought details on whether the teachers were paid through the school management committee,” said A Ellappan, Chief Educational Officer of Salem district.

The teachers, who hail from Rajasthan and other northern states, have been appointed to the school, with more than 400 boys and girls from Classes 6 to 12 studying at the residential school, which also provides hostel facilities.

The school offers coaching to Class 12 students preparing for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and other national-level entrance examinations. In the recent NEET re-examination, five students from the school secured admission to medical courses under the 7.5 per cent preferential quota for students from government schools.

Against this backdrop, the appointment of five non-native Tamil-speaking teachers has become a contentious issue. Criticism on social media has centred on whether teachers who do not know Tamil can communicate effectively with students and provide coaching.

In a statement, he said the May 29, 2026, order recorded 4,601 encroachments covering 5,072.653 hectares in Meghamalai. The State government had classified 1,595 occupants as having permanent houses and forest-dependent livelihoods, 233 as having temporary houses and such livelihoods, and 2,773 as being dependent on forest agriculture.

Veerapandian said their rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, must be identified, verified and recognised before any eviction. Section 4 (5) of the Act safeguards tribal and traditional forest dwellers from eviction until the rights recognition process is completed, he said.

He urged the government to halt evictions, complete the recognition of individual and community forest rights and challenge the Supreme Court order, stressing that forest conservation and the rights of forest-dependent communities were not contradictory.

During Zero Hour in the Assembly, the issue was raised by AIADMK floor leader Edappadi K Palaniswami, S Sivakumar (PMK), R Senthilselvan (DMK), T Ramachandran (CPI) and R Chellaswamy (CPM).

Replying to them, minister Aadhav Arjuna said four fishermen from Sirkazhi had ventured into the sea for fishing off the Arabian coast. "During their venture, Iranian pirates tried to loot. Following this, they were shot, and one fisherman, Maaveeran, died on the spot. Another fisherman was admitted to the hospital," Minister Aadhav said.

He said an inquiry had been initiated and that the Mayiladuthurai District Collector was taking all measures to bring back Maaveeran's body. "The Secretary of Fisheries is also taking measures through the embassy," Minister Aadhav said.

The latest Budget proposed smart meters for all consumers in Chennai city and 50 lakh industrial and commercial consumers across the rest of the State. Chennai Region, which includes parts of Tiruvallur district, has around 38.80 lakh consumers. The announcement replaces the previous government's proposal to install smart meters for all 3.04 crore consumers in two phases.

In its representation to the TNPDCL Chairman and Managing Director, the JAC said smart meters should instead be limited to high-consumption consumers through the capital expenditure (CAPEX) model.

The unions said around 1.3 crore domestic consumers use less than 200 units, while another 90 lakh use between 200 and 500 units. Around 33 lakh domestic consumers use more than 500 units, and 40 lakh commercial consumers could be covered under smart metering, they said. They also opposed smart meters for around 24 lakh agricultural connections.

The JAC claimed that installing three lakh smart meters under the Total Expenditure (Totex) model would cost around Rs 475 crore, against a Central subsidy of only Rs 52 crore, leaving the utility with an additional Rs 423 crore burden. The same number of meters could be procured, installed and maintained by TNPDCL employees for around Rs 175 crore under the CAPEX model, it said.

The JAC therefore demanded that the blanket rollout be dropped and CAPEX-based smart meters be installed only for high-consumption consumers.

The unions also sought new generation plants, substations and distribution infrastructure, along with the required manpower, to meet the State's growing electricity demand.

They demanded the withdrawal of Board Order No 2 dated April 12, 2022, which requires government approval for extending government employee schemes to power utility staff, citing delays.

The JAC sought immediate implementation of the Rs 25 lakh gratuity ceiling for power utility employees and retrospective enhancement of the FSFS benefit from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh from September 1, 2021. The JAC urged the management to resolve the pending demands to maintain industrial peace.

"Public policy must not inadvertently penalise states for fulfilling national objectives," Vijay stressed, seeking an assurance to preserve the federal balance.

On fiscal federalism, the Chief Minister stated that southern states seek fair and equitable treatment respecting fiscal autonomy rather than preferential treatment, alongside greater flexibility in determining GST rates.

On inter-state water disputes, particularly Cauvery and Mullaiperiyar, he urged that the rights of lower-riparian states be protected and tribunal awards implemented in letter and spirit.

Reiterating the State's opposition to NEET, Vijay requested permission for Tamil Nadu to fill all seats under the state quota in MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH courses solely based on Class 12 marks, arguing that the competitive exam disadvantages rural and economically weaker students.

He also called for stronger inter-state coordination to tackle drug trafficking and proposed common economic clusters across the region, reminding the council that southern states contribute over 30% of India's GDP. The meeting was chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and attended by chief ministers and representatives from neighbouring states.

Meanwhile, the DMK strongly criticised Vijay, alleging that he had executed a somersault on the delimitation issue following his meeting with Amit Shah. Speaking to reporters at Anna Arivalayam, DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran questioned the Chief Minister over the resolution previously passed by the State Assembly, which insisted that the number of Lok Sabha constituencies remain frozen at 543 based on the 1971 Census.

Maran asked whether Vijay had changed his position, shifted his political alignment from the Congress to the BJP, or acted out of fear after meeting the Union Home Minister. The opposition party demanded that the TVK leader clarify his actual stand on the upcoming delimitation process.

It said that the cooperative administration will deduct Rs 1.75 and the producers would get only Rs 1.25 per litre.

It demanded that the State increase the procurement price by 5%.

It noted that the milk producers have long been demanding Rs 44/litre of cow milk and Rs 60/ litre of buffalo milk.

Noting that procurement by Aavin in August 2025 was 36 lakh litre/ day, association State president Rajendran said, “If the situation continues, the milk producers from the central region would opt to supply milk to the private firms, further weakening the functioning of Aavin," he said.