"The TVK-led government will solve all these issues. We will not act against anyone and will support farmers and people. To resolve all these issues, tripartite talks are under way," the minister said.

The issue was raised by AIADMK member A Arunmozhithevan, CPM member T Latha, Premalatha (DMDK) and Sowmiya Anbumani (PMK), who alleged that NLC was a ruthless company that did not provide jobs to local people who had given their lands to the corporation.

Minister Keerthana said NLC had reported no untoward incidents in or around the company. "The company has assured the government that it is its duty to maintain cordial relations with local people and the district administration," the Minister said. PMK appealed to the minister, asking her not to fall for NLC's claims that it might not have properly allocated funds under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Members from both parties urged the Speaker to take up the issues under the Special Calling Attention Motion immediately. AIADMK floor leader Edappadi K Palaniswami and Opposition Whip EV Velu raised the issue when the Assembly commenced on Thursday.

Replying to them, Speaker JCD Prabhakar said he could take up the issues only after receiving replies from the ministers of the concerned departments.

Recalling the procedure followed during the DMK regime, the Speaker said the then floor leader, Duraimurugan, had told the Opposition that the issues could be taken up under Rule 55 in the House only after receiving replies from the Ministers.

"The same procedure has been followed now. This House has already taken up two issues under Rule 55 as Special Calling Attention Motions. This procedure continues in this House, " the Speaker said.

Ground-level assessments and reports from veterinary doctors indicate that the elephants died of natural causes, said R Vidyadhar, Deputy Director of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve.

A 50-year-old female elephant found dead on August 8 was suspected to have died of old age. Field teams also found signs at the site suggesting that the elephant may have slipped and fallen on a slope.

Another 50-year-old female elephant found dead in the Kuthirai Paarai area of the Avaralla section in the Masinagudi Forest Range on August 17 was also suspected to have died naturally due to old age. Its carcass was found about 1.5 km from the Moyar River, a permanent water source.

In the third incident, a 30-year-old female elephant died on August 18, with officials suspecting an injury to its hind limb as the cause. The injury may have restricted the animal's mobility and affected its overall physical condition. Its carcass was found about 500 metres from the Maravakandy Reservoir, another permanent water source.

“Two of the three carcasses were found close to permanent water sources, ruling out a direct link between the deaths and water scarcity. Although the deaths occurred during a period of low rainfall, that alone cannot be considered scientific evidence. The division records an average of 15 to 20 elephant deaths every year due to natural causes,” Vidyadhar noted.

From the Kilambakkam terminus, special buses to Tiruvannamalai, Tiruchy, Kumbakonam, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Nagercoil, Kanniyakumari, Thoothukudi, Coimbatore, Salem, Erode and Tirupur will be operated.

A total of 890 buses will ply on August 21 and 820 buses on August 22.

From the CMBT, special buses to Tiruvannamalai, Nagapattinam, Velankanni, Hosur and Bengaluru will be operated.

One hundred and ten buses will be operated each on August 21 and 22. In addition, 200 special buses from Bengaluru, Tirupur, Erode and Coimbatore will ply to various destinations.

From the Madhavaram Bus Terminus, special buses will run to Kallakurichi, Tiruvannamalai, Tiruchy, Kumbakonam, Vellore, Hosur and Puducherry.

Eighty special buses will be operated each on August 21 and 22.

To facilitate passengers returning to Chennai and Bengaluru from their hometowns, 465 special buses will also be operated from various parts of the state on August 23.

So far, 18,762 passengers have booked tickets for Friday, 10,461 have booked for Saturday, and 17,678 passengers have booked for Sunday, taking the total number of advance bookings to 46,901.

The number is expected to increase further in the coming days.

Additional officials have been deployed at major bus terminals to monitor the operation of the special services.

Passengers can book tickets in advance through the TNSTC mobile app or the www.tnstc.in website.

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.

In collaboration with the Directorate of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, the State government conducted the coaching programme for the wards of retired armed forces personnel from 2016 until 2020.

The 15-day training programme was conducted through the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies at the University of Madras.

It was aimed at spreading awareness about the CDS examination and helping students understand its pattern, syllabus and the types of questions asked.

The programme helped some candidates clear the CDS examination, and a few of them are currently undergoing training to become officers in the armed forces.

The coaching classes were halted during the pandemic and are yet to be resumed. The continued suspension has raised concerns, particularly as awareness of the CDS examination remains low among students in Tamil Nadu and the number of candidates appearing for defence officer-level examinations is relatively low.

J Utham, head of the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies at the University of Madras, said the programme had played an important role in creating awareness among students about the CDS examination.

"We are ready to restart the coaching classes if the government gives permission," he said.

Students and ex-servicemen's organisations are expecting the Tamil Nadu government to take steps to revive the programme, which could help more wards of former armed forces personnel pursue careers as defence officers.

Udhaya Shri, who lives in the Lakshmipuram hamlet of Namanur village panchayat in Sivaganga, is among the nearly 60 students, most of them girls, who pedal about 10 km every day to school and back, because the village doesn’t have a bus service.

Villagers said the lack of transportation has already forced around 90 of the 150 students in the village to shift to private schools that provide bus services.

Every day, morning and evening, a stream of girls could be seen pedalling one behind the other, like ants moving in a line, along the route to school. At some sandy stretches along the stream, it gets hard to pedal and they are forced to get down the bicycles and push them along.

“There is hardly any presence of people on this route. Our parents always caution us about safety, and we are filled with fear on our ride home in the evening,” a group of students said.

The students leave their homes around 7.30 am and reach the Government Model Higher Secondary School at Keelappoongudi around 8.15 am. In the evening, they leave school at 5 and reach home by around 6.30 pm.

“It feels like we are holding a fire in our stomach until our children reach home safely in the evening,” said Ananda Bairavi, 42, the mother of a Class 10 student from the village.

Mothers of many girl students echoed concerns about their children’s safety.

“These days it is common to see people in an inebriated condition. How can we not worry about our children's safety?” they asked.

Giritharan, a Class 10 student, said the journey becomes particularly difficult during the rainy season.

“It gets very difficult for us to reach home in the rains. We come home drenched and our books are ruined,” he said.

Though there is a direct bus service for the village in the morning and evening, the service originates from Melur, a taluk in Madurai district, and does not pass via Keelappoongudi, where the school is located.

The morning bus arrives after 9 am, while the evening service comes only after 6.30 pm.

“If we want to catch a bus, we either need to walk a kilometre to a bus stop or two kilometres to Namanur. But even then, there are no frequent services,” villagers said.

Though the village is located around 12 km from Sivaganga, the district headquarters, there is no direct government bus service connecting the village with Sivaganga.

“We have made repeated representations to authorities to run bus services during school hours, but to no avail. It will reduce the financial burden on families,” villagers said.

Lakshmipuram, where around 250 families live, is predominantly dependent on agriculture. Unable to withstand the daily ordeal and worried about their children’s safety, many families have shifted their children to private schools that provide transportation to students.

The Sivaganga Collector could not be reached for his response despite repeated attempts.

Announcing a slew of facilities for MLAs under Rule 110 in the Assembly on Wednesday, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay said every legislator would be provided a car and driver, besides a monthly vehicle allowance of Rs 75,000. The government would also provide Rs 25,000 a month to enable each MLA to appoint an assistant for office-related work.

The announcement had come after a demand by Kattumannarkoil VCK MLA LE Jothimani that he had to travel nearly 250 km to reach the Assembly, and that he did not own a vehicle and depended on hired transport. He had sought vehicles for MLAs to enable them to travel to their constituencies and attend to public grievances.

However, his election affidavit lists a Toyota Etios, purchased in 2012. His declared total assets was Rs 85.47 lakh, including Rs 50 lakh in immovable assets and jewellery worth Rs 25 lakh owned by his wife.

The remarks of Periyakulam TVK MLA G Sabari Iyngaran have drawn greater attention. While thanking the CM, Sabari said he had no job and no car earlier and had been travelling by train and auto.

"I had no job and no car. Today, the leader has given me a job and a car," he said, adding that Secretariat security personnel often questioned his identity when he arrived at the Assembly in an auto.

His election affidavit, however, lists a Tata Tigor purchased in February 2023, besides an Access 125 and a Jupiter scooter. He declared total assets of Rs 72.76 lakh, including Rs 30 lakh in fixed deposits and gold jewellery.

Asked by reporters how he could say he came by auto when his affidavit showed that he owned a car, Sabari said, "The distance is long between Periyakulam and Chennai and I travelled by train to attend the Assembly."

Modakurichi TVK MLA D Shanmugan too sparked interest by telling the Chief Minister, "If you are giving a car, it would be good if you give an Innova."

His affidavit lists four cars — a Toyota Innova Crysta, Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Mercedes-Benz GLE 250 4Matic and Volkswagen Ameo. His declared movable assets stand at Rs 6.49 crore and immovable assets at about Rs 31 crore, taking his total declared assets to around Rs 37.52 crore.

It also raised questions about how such decisions could have been reached with the CM's consent.

In its first resolution, the party condemned the order issued by Gujiliamparai Tahsildar Ayyasamy on August 18, seeking details of CPM and CPI members in the taluk. The party said the tehsildar had exceeded his powers and acted in violation of the law.

The CPM questioned why the Dindigul Collector and senior revenue officials had not acted against the order. It also criticised the Collector's decision to relieve the tehsildar from training later that same day, saying the move appeared to be an attempt to avoid action against the official.

The party demanded that the Revenue Minister and Secretary take responsibility for the alleged violation and that action be initiated against the officials concerned.

In another resolution, the CPM condemned the August 17 communication issued by the Commissioner of College Education to principals of all government arts and science colleges.

The communication referred to a government letter dated August 14 calling for coordination among the School Education, Higher Education, police and district administration departments to prevent students and youth from participating in protests organised by Left parties and the Cockroach Janata Party and other democratic movements.

The CPM said the directive amounted to an attempt to curb the constitutional right to protest and could facilitate police interference in educational institutions.

The party said the August 14 communication was based on discussions at a law and order review meeting in July in which Chief Secretary M Sai Kumar had participated. It questioned how such a decision could have been taken without the knowledge of the Council of Ministers or the Chief Minister.

Though the Commissioner of College Education withdrew the communication on August 19, the CPM said the withdrawal did not absolve those responsible for issuing the directive.

The party demanded that the Chief Secretary take responsibility for the instructions and urged Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to ensure that such attempts to restrict democratic rights and target Left parties did not recur.

The resolutions were adopted at the CPM state executive committee meeting held in Chennai on August 19 and 20, chaired by state executive committee member K Samuelraj. Politburo members K Balakrishnan and U Vasuki, state secretary P Shanmugam and others participated in the meeting.

However, KA Sengottaiyan, former AIADMK leader and present Floor Leader, was caught on the wrong foot for claiming that the PDS-supplied food is fit only for cattle, as the opposition objected, saying it demeans the people reliant on the supply.

DMK member MRK Panneerselvam said that party MLA K N Nehru also consumed ration rice, as it helped reduce his blood sugar levels.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition KN Nehru said he was consuming ration rice on his doctor's advice. He added that he was not the only one and that many diabetic patients consumed ration rice.

Intervening in the debate, Public Works Minister Aadhav Arjuna said that during the Agricultural Budget debate, DMK MLA MRK Panneerselvam had said that his party MLA Nehru owned 1,000 acres of land for farming, but now claimed that Nehru was consuming ration rice as a person belonging to the poorest section.

Replying to the minister, Nehru said it did not matter how many acres of land a person owned, as one could eat only as much as one could consume. He said he was engaged in farming for the benefit of others, including minister Aadhav.

During Zero Hour in the Assembly, DMK member Thangam Thennarasu raised the issue, saying the fireworks industry had been severely affected by surprise checks at factories, which hit Diwali production, and that the upcoming Monsoon season will affect the functioning of the units.

Intervening, Industries Minister Keerthana said the issue had been resolved and that the employees had returned to their factories. Alleging that political parties were behind instigating protests over the issue, she said some had created confusion among the people and distorted the facts.

Rejecting the minister's statement, DMK MLA Thangam Thennarasu said there was no objection to conducting raids on illegal factories, but surprise checks had also been conducted at legally functioning factories. "Owing to these checks, the production of crackers has been affected. There was no politics behind the agitation. Agitation is a democratic right," he added.

The new curriculum and syllabi are being developed in accordance with the Tamil Nadu State Education Policy 2025. A high-level expert committee and curriculum design committees were constituted under the leadership of the Minister for School Education, A Rajmohan, to oversee the process.

Following the guidance of these committees, SCERT has prepared curricula for Tamil, English, Mathematics, Science and Social Science for students from Classes 6 to 10.

The draft curricula will be available on the TN School Education Department's official website, tnschools.gov.in, from August 20 for educators, members of the public, teachers and students to review.

Those wishing to offer suggestions or comments have been asked to submit their feedback through the online form available on the same website. Respondents are required to provide their personal details along with their feedback.

The deadline for submitting feedback is August 31.

The initiative invites teachers, students, educationists, and the wider public to share their views before the curriculum development process moves forward.

Addressing the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah at Kovalam near Mamallapuram, Vijay said Tamil Nadu’s river-water rights must be protected and the rights of downstream States should be safeguarded, according to a Daily Thanthi report.

The Supreme Court on August 17 had directed the Karnataka government to comply with the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s (CWMA) directions on releasing water to Tamil Nadu and sought a status report on the releases.

The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) had directed Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days from August 12. The CWMA subsequently upheld the decision.

Vijay seeks NEET exemption, fair share of funds

Vijay also reiterated Tamil Nadu’s demand for exemption from the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), saying the examination affects poor and rural students seeking admission to medical courses. He suggested that medical admissions be based solely on Class 12 marks.

He also called for steps to raise the Mullaperiyar dam’s water level to 152 feet in accordance with judicial directions.

Speaking about delimitation, the Chief Minister urged the Centre to ensure that southern States do not lose parliamentary representation because of their success in population control. He sought a legal assurance that the representation of southern States would not be reduced.

Vijay also demanded a fairer share of central funds for Tamil Nadu, saying financial devolution should take into account States’ performance and development investments.

Bengaluru Metro extension to Hosur sought

Vijay proposed extending the Bengaluru Metro network to Hosur, describing it as an important infrastructure project that could strengthen connectivity between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

He also called for greater regulation of online medicine sales and sought cooperation among southern States to tackle drug trafficking.

The Chief Minister proposed integrated industrial clusters connecting southern States and called for greater flexibility for States in determining GST-related rates and limits.

He said southern States would work together on maritime transport and fishing-related issues and stressed the need for cooperation among neighbouring States.

“Southern States are the engines of India’s economic growth,” Vijay said, noting that they account for around 30% of the country’s GDP. He added that Tamil Nadu would continue to work with the Centre towards the country’s overall development.

The meeting was attended by Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan, Puducherry Lieutenant Governor K Kailashnathan and senior officials from the participating States and Union Territories.

Abraham had set up a pentecostal church in the name of Rajaji Raj in Mela Ilandaikulam in 2020, said M Shanmughan, Additional Superintendent of Police, Crime Against Women and Children (CWC), Tirunelveli, who reopened the investigation into the case in January 2026.

He invited the girls to learn the Bible and songs at his church and sexually assaulted them, including penetrative assault, the officer said, adding the girls had not even attained puberty.

Since it was during the COVID-19 pandemic, the children did not attend school. “The pastor also threatened the girls with dire consequences if they informed their parents,” said Shanmugam.

It was only after two years that one of the girls told her parents. After the mother lodged a complaint at the Tirunelveli All-Women Police Station, the then inspector, Radha, registered a case against the pastor under the POCSO Act in July 2022 and arrested him. The police also provided counselling to the girls.

When the prosecution produced the four girls before the court on Thursday, they requested the Judge Suresh Kumar to award the maximum punishment to Abraham.

The court also ordered the government to pay Rs 10 lakh as compensation to each of the four girls.

AIADMK floor leader Edappadi K Palaniswami and Opposition Whip EV Velu raised the issue when the Assembly commenced on Thursday.

Replying to them, Speaker JCD Prabhakar said he could take up the issues only after receiving replies from the Ministers of the concerned departments.

Recalling the procedure followed during the DMK regime, the Speaker said the then floor leader, Duraimurugan, had told the Opposition that the issues could be taken up under Rule 55 in the House only after receiving replies from the Ministers.

"The same procedure has been followed now. This House has already taken up two issues under Rule 55 as Special Calling Attention Motions. This procedure continues in this House," the Speaker said.

Sharing photographs of the interaction on social media platfom X, Satheesan said in a post, "On the sidelines of the Southern Zonal Council meeting in Mahabalipuram, Chennai, had a key interaction with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. PK Kunhalikutty (Minister for Industries and Information Technology of Keralam) was also present."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah convened the meeting of chief ministers of southern states to deliberate upon important inter-state and national issues.

The Southern Zonal Council comprises the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Keralam, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, and the Union Territories of Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.

The council serves as an excellent forum for resolving issues and disputes between the Centre and the member States/Union Territories, the union government said.

River water sharing issues between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and Keralam are among the ongoing disputes.

Shivakumar calls for cooperation instead of conflict over river water

Speaking at the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council, he pointed out that rivers do not recognise political boundaries and said Karnataka respected and upheld the rights of other States. Shivakumar also maintained that Karnataka's legal share of water must be respected. He said Karnataka had not attended the conference to complain but as a partner in India's development.

Karnataka seeks fairness, transparency on Mekedatu project

Shivakumar said fairness was the only demand being made by Karnataka and listed equality, transparency and cooperation as the State's guiding principles. Turning specifically to the Mekedatu project, he said the proposed dam was important for both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. "Help us to help you," Shivakumar said, arguing that the project could benefit farmers in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

He further said every drop of water from the project would benefit farmers in the neighbouring States. Karnataka has been pushing for the construction of the Mekedatu dam across the River Cauvery, while Tamil Nadu has strongly opposed the project, citing concerns over the State's share of Cauvery water. The remarks at the Southern States conference come amid continued discussions between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over the sharing and utilisation of Cauvery water. Shivakumar's appeal for cooperation comes at a time when the Mekedatu project remains a major point of disagreement between the two States.

Southern States leaders participate in conference chaired by Amit Shah

The 31st Southern States Chief Ministers' Conference, organised by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, is currently under way at a star hotel in Kovalam near Mamallapuram.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar were seated next to each other at the conference. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Kerala Chief Minister Satheesan, Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kailashnathan and the Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands also participated in the meeting. Officials from Lakshadweep and senior officials representing the respective States and Union Territories were also present. The conference is being held to discuss issues concerning the southern States and strengthen coordination between the States and the Centre on matters of common interest.

Revised DPR submitted for Mekedatu project

The Karnataka government has submitted a revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed Mekedatu project to the Central government. The project, originally estimated to cost Rs 9,000 crore, envisages a 67-TMC dam across the River Cauvery, with around 4.75 TMC proposed to meet Bengaluru's drinking water requirements. The revised report includes details of the forest land that would be submerged, the trees likely to be affected and the compensatory measures proposed by Karnataka. The revised DPR will now be examined by the Central government before further decisions are taken on the project.

According to the Daily Thanthi report, firefighting operations continued for the second day on Thursday (August 20) as the blaze could not be brought under control.

The private paper mill has more than 500 workers.

How did the fire break out occur at the paper mills?

On Wednesday afternoon, old paper bundles stacked in one part of the mill suddenly caught fire amid scorching heat. Strong winds at the time caused the fire to spread rapidly across the premises.

More than 50 firefighters in six fire engines led by District Fire Officer Bhanupriya, rushed to the spot after being alerted. Firefighting operations continued through the night, but the blaze remained uncontrolled.

How many tonnes of paper bales were destroyed?

Around 25,000 tonnes of old paper bales worth several lakhs of rupees were destroyed in the fire.

Karnataka has proposed constructing a 67-TMC dam across the River Cauvery at Mekedatu, a move that has been strongly opposed by the Tamil Nadu government.

The revised DPR reportedly contains details of the forest land that would be submerged, the number of trees that would be affected and the compensatory measures proposed by the Karnataka government.

The Karnataka government had first submitted the DPR for the Mekedatu project to the Central government around five years ago. The project was then estimated to cost Rs 9,000 crore and was proposed to meet Bengaluru's drinking water requirements and generate 400 MW of electricity.

However, the Central government returned the earlier DPR citing technical issues and asked Karnataka to submit a revised report. Against this backdrop, the Karnataka government has now resubmitted the revised DPR.

The proposed project involves constructing a dam with a storage capacity of 67 TMC. The report states that around 4.75 TMC of water from the project would be utilised to meet Bengaluru's drinking water requirements.

8.90 lakh trees to be felled, 12,500 acres of forest land to be submerged under Mekedatu project

According to the revised DPR, around 12,500 acres of forest land would be submerged once the Mekedatu project is implemented. As a compensatory measure, around 20,000 acres of land in areas including Dakshina Kannada and Shivamogga have reportedly been identified for allocation to the Forest Department.

The project is also expected to have a significant impact on the forest cover in the Mekedatu region. Around 8.90 lakh trees are proposed to be felled as part of the project.

Of these, around seven lakh are classified as small trees, while around one lakh are categorised as large trees. The remaining trees are also expected to be affected by the project and associated construction activities.

The complete details contained in the revised DPR have not yet been made public.

Rs 9,000 crore Mekedatu project proposed to meet Bengaluru's drinking water needs and generate 400 MW

The Mekedatu project was originally proposed with an estimated cost of Rs 9,000 crore. Karnataka has maintained that the project would primarily help meet the drinking water requirements of Bengaluru while also generating 400 MW of electricity.

The proposed dam across the River Cauvery has, however, remained a contentious issue between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu government has consistently opposed the project, citing concerns over its impact on the State's share of Cauvery water.

Karnataka has continued to push for the project, with the revised DPR now submitted to the Central Government for further consideration.

Foundation stone for Mekedatu project planned for August 2027, says Karnataka

Karnataka Irrigation Minister Cheluvarayaswamy has confirmed that the revised DPR has been submitted to the Central Government. The State government has reportedly set a target of laying the foundation stone for the Mekedatu project by August 2027.

The Karnataka government has already appointed a dedicated office and a team of officials to oversee the project. The team is currently carrying out work related to the implementation of the proposed dam.

The revised DPR will now be examined by the Central Government before further decisions are taken on the project. Meanwhile, the proposed submergence of forest land and the felling of nearly 8.90 lakh trees are expected to remain key points of concern as the project moves forward.

The company will launch the 10 residential projects across the State between August 23 and September 1, 2026, comprising a mix of plotted developments and villas.

The latest initiative will mark a significant expansion of Sameera Group’s footprint across key growth markets in TN. The new projects will come up across Tiruchy, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Vellore, Ranipet, Kanchipuram, Chennai, Krishnagiri, Tiruvannamalai and Chengalpattu.

Each project is planned across approximately 10 acres, with around 200 units and plot sizes beginning from approximately 800 sqft.

Jayakumar Murugesan, MD, Sameera Groups, said, “We are simultaneously expanding into several important growth markets across TN. This initiative reflects both the scale of our ambition and the execution capability we have built over more than four decades in the real estate sector.”

M Sandeep Kumar, MD, Sameera Groups, said, “These launches have been planned to address the growing demand for organised residential developments across emerging markets in TN. The projects will offer a mix of plotted developments and villas, supported by gated environments, parks and other community infrastructure. Our focus is to create well-planned developments that can offer customers both a quality living environment and long-term value.”

Wondering what prompted the chief minister to make such a decision, DMK organising secretary RS Bharathi said there were so many issues affecting the people that merited immediate attention.

“The people are suffering, and there are many burning issues afflicting the state. What is the urgency for this? The government could have waited,” Bharathi told PTI, reacting to Vijay’s announcement in the Assembly today.

When pointed out that some of the first-time MLAs from the ruling TVK don’t own a car, he asked, “Then why not the party fund them or ensure a loan to buy the vehicle?”

Another DMK leader, Dr Ezhilan, criticised the decision, pointing out that many legislators are wealthy as per their election affidavits. Spending hugely on providing them vehicles and allowances contradicted the state government’s claim of a financial crisis or empty coffers, he told reporters here.

AIADMK spokesperson and party’s advocate wing joint secretary RM Babu Murugavel said an official vehicle for the legislators was essential.

“I personally think all MLAs will accept the car and also the allowance. This only reminds me of the demand for houses for MLAs that I had raised when I served as a legislator,” Murugavel told PTI.

Acknowledging it as a unique initiative, DMDK general secretary and MLA Premallatha Vijayakant flayed the decision, questioning the financial implications. “This project involves an investment of over Rs 150 crore, considering both initial costs and long-term maintenance. While the move is welcomed, there are concerns that many MLAs already possess personal vehicles,” she said.

Instead, the government should prioritise the needs of farmers and fully waive the farm loans. “This would have a more impactful use of public funds and would receive greater public approval,” she told reporters outside the Assembly.

She said CM Vijay must secure the state’s rightful share for tail-end farmers facing crop distress.

“We have only been receiving surplus water from the Cauvery until now. Only when that rightful share of water arrives and flows to the tail-end areas will farmers benefit today. Considering all this, our chief minister must urge this with (Karnataka CM) DK Shivakumar and our Home Minister Amit Shah to secure our rightful water share in the Cauvery,” Premallatha added. She further demanded that the state leadership take up the matter regarding the recent killing of three Tamil youths in Karnataka forests.

As Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay was making a slew of announcements, the House was suddenly disrupted when AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami asked the Speaker to take up an issue for which his party had given a notice.

The Speaker repeatedly appealed for order, urging the members to adhere to established democratic procedures. He reassured that the urgent issues submitted by members had already been forwarded to the government for necessary action and would be formally addressed the following morning.

Emphasising the Assembly’s heavy legislative schedule for the day, which included discussions on crucial grants for three government departments, the Speaker insisted on maintaining decorum and requested members to resume their seats.

However, unsatisfied with Prabhakar’s decision, the AIADMK members staged a walkout.

Later, speaking to reporters outside the Assembly complex, Palaniswami launched a sharp attack on the ruling TVK government over its response to a recent tragedy involving a fisherman from

Palaniswami noted that his party has been insisting on discussions about the TN fisherman shot dead by Iranian pirates but has not received a concrete response Mayiladuthurai.

He claimed a fisherman was shot dead by Iranian pirates while working in Saudi Arabia, while three others were injured and were currently undergoing treatment.

Accusing the administration of inaction, Palaniswami alleged that the opposition had raised the issue in the House on five consecutive days without receiving a concrete response. He demanded that the state government take immediate measures to bring the deceased fisherman’s body to Tamil Nadu, ensure high-quality medical care for the injured, and extend financial aid to the affected families.

In the first incident, a container lorry broke down and was parked on GST Road near Acharapakkam on Tuesday night. At the time, three men – Senthil Kumar (45) from Kadaimalaipudur near Acharapakkam, Manikandan (37) from Pammal and Kalidas (47) from Kampur near Tindivanam were travelling towards Chennai over-speeding on a bike.

Police said the bike crashed into the back of the parked lorry after the riders failed to notice it on the road. Manikandan, who was riding the bike, and Senthil riding pillion, died on the spot. Kalidas, who was seated on the bike, was grievously injured. Acharapakkam police rushed to the spot and admitted him to the Chengalpattu GH for treatment. 

In another accident, a government express bus from Marthandam in Kanniyakumari was travelling towards the Kilambakkam bus terminus on the GST Road on Wednesday morning. When it reached Pulipakkam near Chengalpattu, the driver lost control of the vehicle, veered uncontrollably and overturned on the road. There were 28 passengers on board, of whom four were injured and were taken to a GH for treatment. The remaining escaped without injuries.

Chengalpattu Taluk police used a crane to remove the overturned bus and restore traffic movement. Following the accident, traffic was affected on GST Road for more than two hours in the early hours of Wednesday.

Though usually such FIRs are uploaded in public domain within 24 hours, the FIR related to this particular case was not uploaded. Officials claimed that it was the prerogative of the investigation officer to take the decision in sensitive cases like Pocso and other heinous crimes. However, it’s highly unusual for the DVAC not to have uploaded the FIR that was registered more than 50 days ago.

The sea at Dhanushkodi was unusually turbulent in the morning, with waves rising several feet in the air and crashing against the protective wall near Arichal Munai.

The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has warned that sea conditions could be rough, with waves moving towards the shore at unusually high speeds. There is also a possibility of boats colliding with one another and sustaining damage, it added.

Following the warning, the police erected barricades at check-posts on new road areas leading to Dhanushkodi. Vehicles, including autorickshaws, cars and vans arriving from various places, were asked to turn around.

Even devotees and tourists who had visited the Rameswaram temple and arrived for the customary stop at Dhanushkodi were turned back by the police, citing rough sea conditions.

The sudden imposition of the restrictions disappointed residents, particularly women who usually set up stalls selling fruits, conch shells, shell garlands and other items along the Arichal Munai road.

Meanwhile, fishermen have been prohibited from venturing into the sea until further orders. More than 10,000 mechanised boats, country boats and fibre boats from Rameswaram, Pamban, Mandapam, Thangachimadam, Dhanushkodi and other parts of the district have been anchored along the coast.

In Thoothukudi, the Fisheries Department has alerted fishing villages. Officials have advised people living in low-lying coastal areas to remain cautious, as seawater could suddenly advance into coastal and shoreline areas. They also advised fishermen not to keep small boats close to the shore and to anchor mechanised boats with sufficient distance between them.

Coastal parks in Thoothukudi have been closed to the public.

The police barricades have been placed and warning boards put up at coastal parks, including Muthunagar Beach Park and New Harbour Beach Park, to prevent public entry. Police personnel are also patrolling coastal areas.

Gudur is a critical interchange linking Chennai, Vijayawada and Renigunta. Gummidipundi serves as a key suburban node for daily commuters to and from Chennai, and once completed, it will provide seamless connectivity to Chennai, Kamarajar (Ennore) and Krishnapatnam ports, besides improving access to religious and tourist destinations like Pulicat Lake, Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary and Lord Veeraraghava Perumal Temple.

The 90-km Gummidipundi-Gudur section is a vital double-line corridor along the Delhi-Chennai and Howrah-Chennai trunk routes. Falling within the Vizag-Chennai Industrial Corridor (VCIC) and East Coast Economic Corridor (ECEC), Gudur serves as a crucial interchange linking Chennai, Vijayawada, and Renigunta, while Gummidipundi acts as a primary suburban node for Chennai commuters.

The Gummidipundi-Gudur link alone will generate 61 lakh mandays of employment and save Rs 382.15 crore in annual logistics costs. Gummidipoondi Railway Passengers Welfare Association president, S Suresh Babu, said, "We welcome the move. If an additional line comes, we get additional stoppages and train services, which will reduce our daily travel time to Chennai. Now an express train comes from Chennai Central; EMU trains are kept in a loop."

The other projects include Kharagpur-Bhadrak (Ranital) 4th Line — 173 km (West Bengal and Odisha, Bhadrak-Haridaspur 4th line — 75 km (Odisha) and Cuttack-Paradeep (Badabandha) 3rd and 4 th line — 72 km (Odisha). The total cost of the four projects is estimated around Rs 9,450 crore.

Participating in the debate on demands for grants for the Water Resources, Rural Development, and Tourism departments, DMK MLA I Periyasamy pointed out that eight lakh beneficiaries had been identified for the Kalaignar Kanavu Illam Scheme during his party’s tenure.

Countering the DMK legislator, Minister for Rural Development and Water Resources D Anand alleged that large-scale irregularities had marred the beneficiary selection process, claiming that housing units were allocated to individuals who already owned homes. The DMK member maintained that despite minor discrepancies, the previous regime had ensured the scheme was not halted.

Intervening in the debate, School Education Minister Rajmohan remarked, "When we present evidence of graft during the DMK tenure, Opposition members deflect. I wonder how they will react when the Chief Minister himself unveils the ultimate proof in his possession."

As DMK legislators continued to demand documentary proof, Chief Minister Vijay stepped in, noting he had initially refrained from speaking on the matter. "Since Opposition members are demanding evidence, I must clarify. A week ago, the Finance Minister noted that audit files of three departments were placed on my table. That was no casual remark. Every charge is backed by solid evidence. Do not compel me to release them immediately. The files will be revealed at the right time," Vijay asserted.

Taking a dig at the Opposition, the Chief Minister added, "We approached the electorate with sincerity and humility, and they rewarded us with this mandate. I will speak out when required. At least let some good come out of it during the upcoming bypolls (to seven Assembly constituencies)."

The accused S Parthasarathy told the police that he took the extreme step as he was frustrated by his mother S Padmavathi's prolonged illness.

The Government Railway Police were alerted by workers after they noticed an elderly woman's body on the tracks near Manavur railway station.

Police personnel sent the body for a post-mortem examination.
The police examined the CCTV footage and found the woman was brought to the spot on a wheelchair.  

According to the initial probe, Padmavathi, a widow, had been living in Manavur near Thiruvalangadu with her eldest of the three sons.

Parthasarathy is the youngest of the three; his wife and daughters were estranged from him due to his alcohol problem. He was taking care of both his mother and the eldest brother who was also bed-ridden.

A contract employee at the Heavy Vehicles Factory, Avadi, Parthasarathy told the police that his mother’s recent hospitalisation pushed him into frustration as he could not care for her and also sent money to his wife and daughters, and decided to get rid of her.

On Tuesday, Parthasarathy took his mother to the Manavur railway station. He apparently took help from some passengers to carry his wheelchair-bound mother up and down the stairs to reach the platform where express trains passed through. He then allegedly pushed his mother in front of a moving train and fled the spot, the police said.

A police team secured Parthasarathy on Wednesday. He was produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody.

The accused doctor Selvamba Rajkumar performed the scan and revealed the fetal sex after receiving the money. Officials subsequently seized the cash, scanning equipment and sealed the hospital. The doctor was handed over to the Vazhapadi police.

Inquiries revealed that Selvamba charged Rs 30,000 for revealing the fetal sex, but discounted Rs 2000, if it is identified as female.

The arrested youths Akash (26) and Ayyappan (27) were lodged in the Pudukkottai prison. On Wednesday, a petition seeking bail was taken up before the Thanjavur Sessions Court. The petition said that Akash, who was suffering from a concentration disorder after an accident, had behaved rudely and stated that he was undergoing treatment.

The Judge Kanimozhi, who heard the plea, ordered bail and asked the police to provide counselling to the duo. Based on the assurance by the SP E Sundaravathanam, they were released on bail.

Instead of responding to the issues raised during the debate, Anand spent nearly an hour praising Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and the TVK's victory in the Assembly elections. He also repeatedly asserted that no one could purchase or lure TVK MLAs.

However, the minister did not explain the steps being taken by the government on the Cauvery issue, despite it being a major concern related to the Water Resources department. Anand said he had wondered several times why Vijay entered politics despite facing repeated hurdles after launching his party. He said he had suggested that TVK contest the elections in an alliance, but Vijay had decided to go it alone and emerged victorious.

Taking a swipe at the AIADMK, Anand said the party could have been in power had it not torn down a poster of the Vijay-starrer Sarkar during its release. He also claimed that several TVK district secretaries had initially refused to contest the elections citing financial constraints. Anand said people of Tamil Nadu had voted for Vijay rising above caste, religion and money.

The protestors charged that the government failed to pay heed to their demands and that no official initiated steps for a talk.

According to loadmen, they have been demanding the pending order of a 60 per cent wage hike with effect from July 12, 2025, green cards for all the loadmen attached to the TNCSC and elections for the recognition of their union.

The members noted that they were staging a series of protests in June when a group of officials held talks with the workers, assuring them they would fulfil their demands by July. However, he said, even as August is ending soon, the promises by the officials remain unfulfilled. As the officials haven't invited them for a talk to date, the agitators commenced their indefinite strike from Tuesday across the State.

As a part of the statewide strike, the loadmen working at the TNCSC rice mills and godowns functioning at Adavathur, Tiruvanaikoil, Srirangam, Manapparai, Musiri and Samayapuram in Tiruchy region stopped loading of rice bags and staged a protest.

“Not only the rice but also other commodities like palm oil, wheat and other essential items too were not loaded. This would affect the distribution in PDS outlets for the upcoming month," said Saravanan, Tiruchy district secretary of the loadmen union.

Meanwhile, the protestors opposed the move by officials to deploy guest workers from the North in loading and unloading activities for uninterrupted distribution and prevented the guest workers' entry into the godown. ”We need a proper response from the government; otherwise, the protests would be intensified," Saravanan added.

A quarrel had broken out between two groups during a music programme over their demand to play their preferred gaana songs. Following the argument, a group of youngsters assaulted and attacked Neelakandan (25) and Chandru (23), both from Padunelli. The two were hacked to death around midnight after the programme ended.

His relatives staged a road blockade demanding the arrest of everyone involved in the incident. Based on the directions of Kancheepuram SP Aravind, special police teams were formed and launched a search for the suspects.

On Monday evening, police arrested Bhagavathi (24), a resident of Padunelli. While attempting to escape, he fell and injured his leg. Police provided first-aid and continued their interrogation, in which they found that five others from the same locality were also involved in the murders.

Police subsequently arrested Pushparaj, Kalaiselvan, Giri, Prabhakaran and Nagaraj, who had been absconding, on Tuesday night. All six were produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody.

Ponnerikarai police, after the investigation, said that the suspects were under the influence of ganja when the dispute occurred. They suspected that an argument between the two groups over the songs to be played during the music programme had escalated into a crime.