A team of personnel from the Sirumugai Forest Range, on a routine patrol, discovered the elephant's carcass in the plantation at around 6.30 am on Monday. Preliminary inquiries revealed that the plantation owner, R Kumar (65), and farm labourer Bakiyaraj (42) had diverted AC power supply to the solar-powered fence surrounding the plantation. The elephant is believed to have come into contact with the live fence during the early hours of Monday and died of electrocution.

Forest officials said the department had conducted inspections in the locality only last week as part of preventive measures against the illegal electrification of fences. Despite the inspections, the accused allegedly connected the high-voltage power supply to the fence on Sunday night in an attempt to prevent wild elephants from entering and damaging their banana crop.

A team of veterinarians conducted a post-mortem examination on the carcass, following which the elephant was buried at the site in accordance with standard protocol.

The Forest Department arrested Kumar and Bakiyaraj under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. They are expected to be produced before a court in Mettupalayam on Tuesday.

In a statement, DRPU general secretary Sankaranarayanan alleged that the Centre had rejected the proposals solely on the basis of population, despite Tamil Nadu submitting revised detailed project reports for both cities. He said the Centre had relied on 2011 Census figures instead of considering the cities' projected growth. According to the union, Madurai's population has now crossed 20 lakh and is expected to increase further by the time the metro project is completed.

Sankaranarayanan argued that metro rail projects should be evaluated based on long-term factors such as urban expansion, industrial development, economic growth and future transport demand, rather than existing population alone. He said Madurai, as the gateway to southern Tamil Nadu, required a metro rail network. He also questioned the basis on which metro projects were approved for Kanpur, Indore, Nagpur and Bhubaneswar, claiming those cities have populations of less than 20 lakh.

The union further opposed the Centre's reported recommendation to implement a Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) instead of a metro, saying Madurai lacks the road infrastructure needed for such a project. The statement urged the Centre to reconsider its decision and accord approval for the Madurai Metro Rail project at the earliest.

The consultation, organised by the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department at the Anna Centenary library here, was attended by Agriculture Minister R Vinoth, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister K A Sengottaiyan, Water Resources Minister N Anand, Food and Civil Supplies Minister P Venkataramanan and several other ministers, along with senior bureaucrats, agricultural scientists, farmer producer organisations and representatives from allied sectors.

Addressing the gathering, Vinoth said the Chennai meeting marked the culmination of an extensive State-wide consultation process. Four regional consultations had already been held and suggestions received from all 38 districts had been compiled and submitted to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

“The Agriculture Budget will reflect the needs of every region. Irrigation, soil and water conservation, natural farming, crop insurance, marketing, livestock, fisheries, dairy development and agri-based industries will receive special attention,” he said.

The minister said the government had set a foodgrain production target of 131.36 lakh metric tonnes for 2026-27 and was pursuing measures such as expanding the cultivated area, promoting mechanisation and encouraging modern farming technologies to achieve the goal.

He also highlighted the Rs 134.83 crore Kuruvai Special Package announced for delta and non-delta districts and said crop loans worth nearly Rs 6,000 crore had been waived for 14.43 lakh farmers despite the State’s financial constraints.

Warning that El Niño and low storage in the Mettur dam could affect cultivation, Vinoth urged farmers to enrol in crop insurance at the earliest. “Farmers expect fair prices for their produce, but more importantly, they want their concerns to be heard. The government will also prioritise schemes for women farmers,” he said.

Farmer organisations urged the government to fix procurement prices at Rs 3,500 per quintal for paddy and Rs 4,500 per tonne for sugarcane, constitute district-level price fixation committees for horticultural crops, expand crop loan waivers, restore lakes and tanks, strengthen cold storage infrastructure and bring crop insurance entirely under government administration.

The Mekedatu issue dominated the discussions. Tamil Nadu All Farmers Associations Coordination Committee president P R Pandian urged the government to pursue only legal remedies, arguing that further political negotiations with Karnataka would be inconsistent with the Supreme Court’s position. In contrast, Federation of Cauvery Delta Farmers Association president K V Elankeeran said the Chief Minister should engage directly with his Karnataka counterpart while continuing legal efforts to protect Tamil Nadu’s water rights.

Farmer leaders also sought drought relief for the Cauvery delta, compensation for agricultural labourers and removal of encroachments from water bodies, expressing hope that the consultations would translate into an Agriculture Budget rooted in farmers’ needs rather than remaining a routine fiscal exercise.

Earlier, the batch of petitions challenging the State government's decision to provide government employment to the legal heirs of those who died in the stampede came up for hearing before a Division Bench comprising Justices CV Karthikeyan and Sakthivel.

Appearing for the State, the Government Pleader submitted that the counter affidavit was not yet ready and sought time to file it. The judges observed that the case had to be heard before the beneficiaries received their first month's salary.

The Government Pleader further informed the court that appointment orders had been issued to 31 persons and that 29 of them had already joined service. The judges, however, observed that all the appointments would be subject to the final decision of the court.

The birthday celebration in Madurai was organised as a "Green Nature Festival" by the Water Body Protection Movement and other public welfare trusts. Held in the Meenakshipuram area along the Sellur-Kulamangalam road near the Sellur tank, the event was led by the movement's founder, Abubakar.

The 107-year-old banyan is the last remaining centenarian tree in the immediate locality, following the prior removal of at least seven other banyan trees for road expansions and park construction. Activists have held the annual birthday event since 2019 to advocate against the tree being felled for future infrastructure projects.

Locals and students from Rajaji Middle School gathered to cut a cake, distribute sweets, and take an oath to protect nature. The tree was decorated with lights, and organisers distributed notebooks and tree saplings to the participating students.

During the gathering, conservationists noted that the tree, which serves as a nesting ground for crows, pigeons, and cuckoos, remains under threat. They cited ongoing damage from the burning of dumped garbage, frequent branch cutting by electricity board workers for overhead lines, and noise pollution from local festival firecrackers.

Meanwhile, in Karur district, a 200-year-old banyan tree collapsed in the Kulithalai area. The fall resulted in damage to two vehicles.

During a routine vehicle inspection at the Chinnakarai check-post near Palladam on Sunday, the police intercepted a two-wheeler carrying Mrutunjaya Rana (27) of Odisha and Nirodh Bagh (22) of Bihar and recovered eight kg of ganja from their possession.

A subsequent search of their rented house led to the seizure of a country-made pistol, four live cartridges, a spent cartridge case, a pistol holster and an additional two kg of ganja.

During interrogation, they claimed to have purchased the firearm from Naxalites in Bihar. Police said the accused had also been practising with the weapon to familiarise themselves with its use in emergencies. A detailed investigation has been launched to trace the origin of the firearm.

Further investigation led police to Raja Kumar (26) of Bihar and Suryakanth Doss (29) of Jharkhand, who were intercepted at Podanur railway station in Coimbatore district while they were transporting 30 kg of ganja by train from their native States. The contraband was seized, and the duo was arrested.

According to the police, the four accused were part of an interstate network involved in smuggling ganja into Tamil Nadu for distribution. Officials said the accused were already facing cases related to ganja trafficking at police stations in Tiruppur and Coimbatore districts.

Ramachandran, who had sustained 75% burn injuries in the explosion and was undergoing treatment at the Virudhunagar Government Medical College Hospital, succumbed to his injuries on Sunday night.

The two other victims were identified as Pandidurai (32) of Meenampatti and Ayapparaj (38) of Sengamalapatti. They, too, were killed in the explosion.

According to the police, R Ramaprasath of Sengamalapatti, his brother Ramachandran, Innasimuthu of Meenampatti and two others were allegedly manufacturing firecrackers illegally when the explosion occurred around 8.30 am on Sunday. The five people had begun manufacturing firecrackers at around 4 am.

The police had identified R Ramaprasath (40) of Sengamalapatti and Innasimuthu (43) of Meenampatti soon after the explosion.

As they were unable to identify the remaining two victims, personnel from the Fire and Rescue Services Department spent nearly three hours searching the farmland before recovering human remains weighing about 2.15 kg from different parts of the blast site. The police had planned to conduct DNA profiling to establish the identities of the two victims.

However, the relatives requested the police to show them the recovered human remains.

"When they examined the remains, they identified certain physical features and confirmed the identities of the two deceased. Following this, the police handed over the remains to the relatives," a police source said.

The relatives informed the police that Innasimuthu and Ayapparaj were brothers.

The relatives staged a protest inside the hospital premises, refusing to receive Innasimuthu's body and Ayapparaj's mortal remains, demanding compensation of Rs. 20 lakh from the government.

After the police held talks with them, the relatives accepted the bodies but said they would approach the court seeking appropriate relief.

Approximately 4.5 tonnes of medical waste are generated daily from both government and private hospitals in the Madurai district. 

“In a month, around 140 tonnes of medical waste are generated, but they are dumped illegally in the Vaigai river, along National Highway, and also in waste containers kept by the city corporation on the streets,” alleged Dr B Sarmesh Khan, a medical practitioner.

When Khan sought an explanation from the Pollution Control Board in Madurai through an RTI regarding the existing practices for disposing of medical waste, the authorities stated they had authorised a private firm to dispose of the waste, which is allegedly being sent to Gummidipoondi, nearly 600 kilometres away. “It is a complete lie,” he claimed.

Explaining this further, Dr Karthik Kannan said that the private firm charges Rs 10 per bed to collect medical waste from a hospital. For instance, if a hospital has 500 beds, they need to pay Rs 5,000 per day, which amounts to Rs 1.5 lakh a month. The private firm gives us a plastic bag with QR codes so that we can track it to the disposal site. But after they collect the bag, they remove the QR code and dump the waste into containers near our hospitals, he claimed.

He alleged that when Corporation officials discover this, they impose fines ranging between Rs 20,000 and Rs 50,000 on the hospitals.

This is not a case unique to Madurai. The team claimed that most of the southern districts — including Theni, Dindigul, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, and Virudhunagar — do not have adequate, scientifically sound Common Bio-Medical Waste Treatment Facility setups to treat and dispose of medical waste.

Disposing of waste in public places causes serious threats to the public, but the authorities are least bothered about it, said the petitioner. He added that although they have made repeated representations to Pollution Control Board officials and the district administration over the last three months, they have not received a proper response.

Now, members of the AMMK have also joined us. If the district administration does not take proper action, the AMMK and other like-minded parties will organise a protest to grab the public's attention, said Sarmesh Khan.

When contacted, District Collector Nishant Krishna was unavailable for comment.

Meanwhile, the accused, identified as Iyappan, 27, died by suicide on Monday.

The incident occurred on Sunday at the victim's residence in Keezhamoongiladi village in Cuddalore district.

Iyappan used to frequent the house of a Class 11 student for electrical repair work, during which he developed an infatuation for her. He had approached the minor multiple times, but she had consistently rejected his proposals, a police official said.

Exploiting the absence of the girl's mother, who had left for her job at a textile shop, Iyappan entered the house on Sunday knowing the teenager was alone. When she turned him down once again, he attacked her with a knife, inflicting a deep wound on her neck before fleeing the spot.

Alerted by the teenager's cries, neighbours rushed to the house and summoned an ambulance. She was taken to the Chidambaram Government Hospital, where doctors stated her condition is critical.

After registering a case, the Chidambaram Taluk police launched a manhunt for the absconding accused, only to find that he had taken his own life at his home in the meantime. "We could not find any suicide note at the scene," a senior police official said.

The consultation, organised by the Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Department at the Anna Centenary Library here, was attended by Agriculture Minister R Vinoth, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister KA Sengottaiyan, Water Resources Minister N Anand, Food and Civil Supplies Minister P Venkataramanan and several other ministers, along with senior bureaucrats, agricultural scientists, farmer producer organisations and representatives from allied sectors.

Addressing the gathering, minister Vinoth said the Chennai meeting marked the culmination of an extensive State-wide consultation process. Four regional consultations had already been held and suggestions received from all 38 districts had been compiled and submitted to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

"The Agriculture Budget will reflect the needs of every region. Irrigation, soil and water conservation, natural farming, crop insurance, marketing, livestock, fisheries, dairy development and agri-based industries will receive special attention," he said.

The minister added the government had set a foodgrain production target of 131.36 lakh metric tonnes for 2026-27 and was pursuing measures such as expanding the cultivated area, promoting mechanisation and encouraging modern farming technologies to achieve the goal.

He also highlighted the Rs 134.83 crore kuruvai special package announced for Delta and non-Delta districts and said crop loans worth nearly Rs 6,000 crore had been waived for 14.43 lakh farmers despite the State's financial constraints.

Warning that El Niño and low storage in the Mettur dam could affect cultivation, Vinoth urged farmers to enrol in crop insurance at the earliest. "Farmers expect fair prices for their produce, but more importantly, they want their concerns to be heard. The government will also prioritise schemes for women farmers," he said.

Farmer organisations urged the government to fix procurement prices at Rs 3,500 per quintal for paddy and Rs 4,500 per tonne for sugarcane, constitute district-level price fixation committees for horticultural crops, expand crop loan waivers, restore lakes and tanks, strengthen cold storage infrastructure and bring crop insurance entirely under government administration.

The Mekedatu issue dominated the discussions. Tamil Nadu All Farmers Associations coordination committee president PR Pandian urged the government to pursue only legal remedies, arguing that further political negotiations with Karnataka would be inconsistent with the Supreme Court's position. In contrast, Federation of Cauvery Delta Farmers Association president KV Elankeeran said the Chief Minister should engage directly with his Karnataka counterpart while continuing legal efforts to protect Tamil Nadu's water rights.

Farmer leaders also sought drought relief for the Cauvery Delta, compensation for agricultural labourers and removal of encroachments from water bodies, expressing hope that the consultations would translate into an Agriculture Budget rooted in farmers' needs rather than remaining a routine fiscal exercise.

Announcing the State’s decision to challenge the verdict, the minister said the government would file a Special Leave Petition before the apex court on Tuesday morning, arguing that the High Court’s order had been passed without hearing those directly affected by it.

“The beneficiaries who had already received government appointment orders were not impleaded as respondents in the case. The court delivered its verdict without giving them an opportunity to present their case,” Nirmalkumar said.

He said the State would contend before the Supreme Court that the appointments were set aside without hearing the beneficiaries, raising concerns over adherence to the principles of natural justice.

According to the minister, the government considers the omission significant as the High Court’s order directly impacts the employment and livelihood of the appointees.

The Madurai Bench had on Monday struck down the government’s decision to provide public employment to the next of kin of those killed in the Karur crowd crush, paving the way for the State to mount a legal challenge.

The government has now decided to seek urgent relief from the Supreme Court, with the appeal scheduled to be filed on Tuesday morning.

The case is expected to focus on whether the beneficiaries should have been made parties to the proceedings before the High Court invalidated their appointments. The State will seek restoration of the appointment orders while defending its decision to provide temporary government employment as a measure of relief to the bereaved families.

Officials said renovation and remodelling work is currently under way on the 10th floor ahead of the Chief Minister's Office shifting to the premises. As a result, departments have been unable to hold review meetings, including pre-Budget discussions, at the conference hall, which was earlier the preferred venue for such meetings.

"The pre-Agriculture Budget consultation was held at the Anna Centenary Library on Monday, which is primarily meant for educational and literary activities," an official said.

Officials noted that the conference hall on the 10th floor could accommodate around 20 people in a single row on the dais, making it suitable for meetings involving several Ministers and senior officials. At the pre-Agriculture Budget meeting held at the Anna Centenary Library, however, all 11 Ministers could not be seated on the stage in a single row due to space constraints.

Meanwhile, readers and competitive examination aspirants have expressed concern over the use of the Anna Centenary Library for large government meetings.

"When large-scale official meetings are held at the library, there is a heavy influx of visitors, which disrupts the peaceful atmosphere required for reading and preparation. It affects the learning environment of the library," said S Kumar, a competitive examination aspirant.

Officials said Kalaivanar Arangam, located close to the Secretariat, is being considered as a possible venue for future large-scale government meetings.

Speaking to reporters in Thanjavur, the federation president Durairaj said the decision was taken during a consultative meeting of broiler chicken traders. According to him, the protest has been called after poultry producers allegedly refused to comply with the traders' demand to regulate the feed given to broiler chickens.

Broiler chicken feed dispute triggers sales suspension

Durairaj claimed that concerns have been raised over the quality of feed used in poultry farms and its possible impact on consumers. He alleged that broiler chickens were being raised using practices that traders had repeatedly objected to and said producers had failed to address the issue despite discussions.

The federation maintained that the suspension of sales is intended to pressure producers into adopting what it described as safer and more acceptable poultry-rearing practices.

Durairaj also clarified that the protest is not directed against the Tamil Nadu government's food safety department. Instead, he urged the authorities to intervene and hold talks with all stakeholders to resolve the issue at the earliest.

If implemented, the proposed suspension is expected to affect the supply of broiler chicken across Tamil Nadu from July 31.

Earlier this month, the federation had demanded that the State government test and regulate the feed used in broiler chicken production units and introduce a standard operating procedure (SOP).

It had further sought a rule requiring poultry producers to withhold feed for 15 hours before sale, arguing that this would ensure the birds' actual weight is recorded and help reduce health risks.

(With inputs from Bureau)

Officials said post-mortem and investigation reports for all elephant deaths have been submitted to the Central government as mandated under the elephant conservation programme.

Elephant population rises

According to the 2025 elephant census, Tamil Nadu has 3,170 elephants, up from 3,063 recorded in 2024.

Around 70 per cent of the State's elephant population is found in the forest areas of the Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts. Officials said the growing population has also increased the need to expand elephant habitats.

Most elephant deaths recorded in Nilgiris, Erode

A senior Forest Department official said that of the 19 elephant deaths recorded between January and the end of June this year, eight each occurred in Mudumalai in Nilgiris district and Sathyamangalam in Erode district.

The official added that compared with the 127 elephant deaths recorded in 2025, the number of deaths has now declined, and efforts are continuing to reduce them further.

“The greatest challenge for tea cultivation is no longer the total amount of annual rainfall but its increasingly erratic distribution. Short bursts of heavy rain followed by prolonged dry periods are creating severe moisture stress, even in areas receiving normal annual rainfall. Since tea is harvested as young shoots, even small climate changes tend to affect shoot growth, yield and quality,” said P Murugesan, Advisory Officer at UPASI Tea Research Foundation’s Regional Centre in Coonoor.

In his study, ‘Super El Nino: Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for the Nilgiris', he claims that long-term observations show that average temperatures have risen in the Nilgiris by about 0.5 degree celsius, while dry days have become more frequent and frost and hailstorm-affected areas have expanded.

“The average rainfall in the district declined by 31 per cent from 173.3 cm in 2021 to 119.4 cm in 2025, while tea productivity fell by 11.8 per cent from a peak of 2,315 kg per hectare in 2023 to 2,042 kg in 2025,” he said.

To safeguard plantations, the UPASI Tea Research Foundation has recommended a series of climate-resilient interventions. Foremost among them is the large-scale planting of ‘gliricidia sepium’ as a shade tree, as it can reduce soil temperature by 3 degree celsius to five degree celsius, improve moisture retention by up to 25 per cent, enrich soil fertility through nitrogen fixation and provide valuable green mature.

Other key recommendations include establishing micro ponds in tea estates to harvest rainwater, vettiver grass barriers to reduce soil erosion, post-pruning lime washing to minimise heat stress, foliar nutrient sprays, and retaining mother leaves while extending plucking intervals during drought.

Emphasising that long term sustainability depends on protecting tea bushes rather than maximising short term harvests, the study states that science-driven adaptation is essential to sustaining long term productivity of the plantation industry.

Extending his congratulations, the Chief Minister said Muthupandi's victory would inspire other youngsters and give them renewed energy and confidence.

In a statement, he said Muthupandi would continue to bring pride to both Tamil Nadu and India through his future achievements.

Muthupandi won the silver medal in the men's 65 kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games, which is being held in Glasgow, Scotland.

Former Chief Minister and DMK President M K Stalin and other leaders also conveyed their wishes to Muthupandi.

The incident comes days after a man from Andhra Pradesh died after getting trapped inside the same cave-like passage.

Devotee rescued

The obese woman devotee attempted to enter and exit through the cave entrance of the Idukku Pillayar Temple but was unable to come out and got stuck inside.

Frightened by the situation, she screamed for help. People present at the temple pulled her out by holding her hand and rescued her.

Recent incident

On the midnight of July 24, Manikumar from Andhra Pradesh, who had come for Girivalam with his family, entered the cave-like passage but was unable to come out, got trapped, collapsed and died.

Devotees arrive in huge numbers for darshan

The Tirumala temple recorded 84,488 devotees who visited for darshan. Devotees filled 31 compartments of the Vaikuntam Queue Complex with the queue extending up to Silathoranam.

Huge waiting time at the temple

Devotees with time-slot tokens had to wait 20 to 24 hours for darshan.

Annaprasadam, laddus, medical services

As many as 4.28 lakh laddus were sold to devotees on Saturday (July 25), while 2.74 lakh devotees received Annaprasadam. Medical services were provided to 3,789 devotees at the temple.

Earlier transport issue

Earlier this year, train services across the Villupuram Yard and the Tirupati-Katpadi section were affected for several weeks after Southern Railway announced cancellations, short-terminations and changes in originating stations due to maintenance and engineering works.

Kavin, a 27-year-old software engineer from Arumugamangalam near Eral in Thoothukudi district, was murdered on July 27 last year.

Honour killing case

Surjith, a resident of Palayamkottai, allegedly hacked Kavin to death after forcing him to end his relationship with Surjith's sister.

Surjith surrendered to the Palayamkottai police within hours of the murder.

CB-CID probe

The Palayamkottai police registered a case and arrested Surjith and his father, Saravanan, in connection with the murder.

The case was later transferred to the CB-CID, which conducted a detailed investigation and arrested their relative, Jayapal.

Surjith's mother, Krishnakumari, who is a sub-inspector, was arrested later, on May 29. She had been absconding for 10 months.

According to proceedings issued by TNPDCL chairman and managing director on July 24, the utility had earlier placed proposals before its board seeking sanction of manpower as per prescribed norms for newly commissioned 33 kV, 110 kV, 230 kV, 400 kV and 765 kV substations. Following the board's approval, the proposal was forwarded to the government in November 2025 for prior clearance from the Finance Department, which is still awaited.

With power failures continuing to affect domestic, commercial, industrial, and essential services across Tamil Nadu, the utility decided to sanction only the minimum required manpower, equivalent to around 50 per cent of the prescribed staffing strength, to ensure uninterrupted operation of the new substations.

The order covers 232 substations commissioned in recent years, including 139 new 33 kV substations, 88 non-grid 110 kV substations, three grid-connected 110 kV substations, and two 230 kV substations spread across various electricity distribution circles.

The 1,030 sanctioned posts include 556 posts for the 33 kV substations, 440 for the 88 non-grid 110 kV substations, 18 for the three grid-connected 110 kV substations, and 16 for the two 230 kV substations.

The corporation said the additional manpower would enable timely preventive maintenance, faster restoration of power supply during breakdowns, and improved response during emergencies and adverse weather conditions. It noted that the decision had been taken in view of the increasing incidence of power failures and critical manpower constraints.

The utility also directed the Superintending Engineers of the distribution and operation circles concerned to deploy the sanctioned personnel immediately and report the dates of utilisation. It added that proposals for the remaining posts required under the prescribed staffing norms would continue to be pursued with the State government for approval and ratification.

From Sunday, major dairy brands, including Tirumala, Srinivasa, Vallabha, Jersey, Heritage and Dodla, from neighbouring States rolled out fresh price revisions across Tamil Nadu.

The hike comes close on Arokya's Rs 4 per litre spike on July 9 and similar revisions implemented from July 21 by Tamil Nadu-based brands such as Amirthaa, Veda, Sun, Raj and Chakra — which effectively concludes that almost all leading private dairies have gone in for a price revision.

The Tamil Nadu Milk Dealers' Welfare Association attributed the hikes to an acute shortage of milk production in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states, which has intensified competition among private dairies for milk procurement. Companies have been raising procurement prices and offering additional incentives to farmers to secure supplies while citing higher raw material and operational costs to justify the retail price spikes.

The association, however, alleged that private dairies have consistently overlooked milk dealers while repeatedly revising retail prices.

"Private companies don’t hesitate to increase retail prices whenever procurement costs rise. But they have failed to recognise the mounting financial burden on milk dealers, who continue to absorb higher fuel costs, vehicle maintenance expenses, shop rentals, employee wages and losses arising out of digital transactions," said S Ponnusamy, founder and State president of the association.

Demanding structural reforms, Ponnusamy urged private dairies to replace the existing fixed commission system with a percentage-based model, similar to that followed by the milk agents' cooperative MD Dairy, and introduce separate incentives for digital transactions so that distributors automatically benefit whenever retail prices are revised.

He said the latest hike would further widen the price gap between private milk brands and Aavin, which remains cheaper by nearly Rs 20 per litre in several categories, forcing more consumers, particularly lower- and middle-income families, to switch to the State-run brand.

The Tamil Nadu Milk Dealers' Welfare Association warned that unless the government launches substantial initiatives to increase milk production, private dairies would continue competing aggressively for procurement, weakening Aavin's supply base and making repeated retail price hikes inevitable.

"A surge in demand for Aavin without a corresponding increase in procurement will only worsen the existing shortage," S Ponnusamy, founder and State president of Tamil Nadu Milk Dealers' Welfare Association said.

The association also expressed concern over what it described as the government's lack of engagement with the issue. It claimed repeated attempts to secure appointments with Minister for Milk and Dairy Development C Vijayalakshmi and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to discuss the milk production crisis, alleged inaccuracies in data submitted by Aavin officials, and the demand for a separate welfare board for the dairy sector had not been successful.

Ponnusamy said such continued absence of intervention was eroding any hope that the current milk shortage could be addressed and called for immediate policy measures to stabilise production, safeguard Aavin's procurement network and prevent further price hikes.

“The Tamil Nadu government cannot bypass NEET simply by passing a State law, as central laws cannot be overridden that way. Our stance has been clear from the beginning-we do not want NEET,” the Energy Resources and Law Minister said.

He dismissed the political rhetoric surrounding the issue, calling the resignation demands and legislative moves mere “eye-wash” that would do little to help students. Targeting the DMK’s role in the recent protests, he alleged that party workers were trying to hijack the student-led agitation.

“The DMK is trying to hijack the movement, which is a cheap political act. Students themselves chased them away,” he said.

Earlier, it was mandatory that the bars should be adjacent to the liquor shop.

The government also increased the minimum plinth area for bars from 15 sqm to 20 sqm, and removed the provision that allowed Collectors to determine the plinth area for larger bars.

N Periyasamy of the Tasmac Employees Union said the amendment could address a long-standing issue faced by retail employees.

In many locations, Tasmac outlets function from within privately operated bar premises, leaving contract workers dependent on bar operators and vulnerable to intimidation, he said. In some instances, Periyasamy claimed, bar operators take liquor stock without settling payments immediately, creating scope for irregularities.

However, the union cautioned that the new arrangement could pose fresh enforcement challenges. With bars and retail outlets operating from separate premises, inspections would have to cover two locations instead of one. They alleged the system could create opportunities for illegal liquor sales unless strict monitoring is ensured.

Questions were also raised whether the revised minimum plinth area of 20 sq m (about 215 sq ft) would be adequate for a functional bar. Stakeholders say that a minimum area of around 500 sq ft would be more practical, as it would accommodate four or five tables and offer better facilities for customers.

Bar owners, meanwhile, opposed the move, saying liquor shops and bars should continue to function as an integrated unit. N Ambarasan, State president of the Tamil Nadu Tasmac Bar Owners and Employers Association, said, "Tasmac enabling new bidders with nearby properties to compete for licences would affect the bar owners who had invested in premises based on the existing model," he said, adding that the property owners will also try to remove the Tasmac from their premises if a bar is moved out.

"Tasmac retail outlets typically fetch only Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000 a month in rent from the government, while bars generate rentals ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh," he noted.

Brands that received larger procurement orders enjoyed better shelf availability, leading to higher sales and, consequently, even larger procurement orders in subsequent cycles. While the revised formula removes that sales-linked allocation, beer manufacturers say it addresses only one part of the issue.

The revised formula currently applies only to beer and the mass market range of IMFS, while procurement of medium and premium IMFS will continue under the existing mechanism. Tasmac has also directed Elite and Mall outlets – which sell premium liquor – in the pilot districts to stock at least one case of every medium and premium brand to improve product availability. Despite repeated attempts, both over phone and in person, Tasmac officials did not respond to queries.

An internal circular issued by Chief Engineer (IT & RAPDRP) K Sujatha said the utility had achieved only 9.99% assessment of metered agricultural services for June 2026, despite the regulator mandating that at least 15% of such connections be assessed every month. The assessment level improved from 8.87% on July 7 to 9.53% on July 15 before reaching 9.99% on July 22, but still remained well below the prescribed benchmark.

The circular noted that TNERC, through its True-up Order dated March 28, 2024, had directed the utility to ensure that at least 15% of metered agricultural service connections in every circle are assessed every month to ensure accurate subsidy claims, sales realisation, energy accounting and loss assessment. It also pointed out that field staff are already sanctioned Rs 20 per service connection for checking meter health and recording readings.

However, only a dozen circles crossed the 15% target. Kanniyakumari topped the State with 62.5%, followed by Tirunelveli (48.18%), Thoothukudi (44.91%), Udumalpet (38.49%), Vellore (31.36%), and Erode (25.38%).

In contrast, Chennai South-II did not record a single assessment, while Tiruvallur and Nagapattinam managed just 0.06%. Chennai West stood at 0.76%, Kancheepuram at 0.81%, Thanjavur at 0.91% and Sivaganga at 0.98%. Chennai North improved from 0.28% to 2.54% during the review period but remained far short of the target.

The circular directed all Chief Engineers to ensure that pending June 2026 agricultural meter readings are entered into the LT Billing Software immediately. It also warned that headquarters would verify the entries on a daily basis and reiterated that meter readings for agricultural services must be uploaded before the 15th of the following month.

Addressing reporters at the Chennai Press Club, Manirathinam urged the State government to allot a designated public space in Chennai for a sustained anti-NEET protest. He said scrapping NEET remained the only permanent solution to protect the future of students aspiring to pursue medical education and asserted that the movement would continue through democratic means until the examination was withdrawn.

His remarks came a day after members of the Cockroach Janata Party and Left-linked student and youth groups announced the withdrawal of their protest at Balan Illam, the CPI state headquarters in T Nagar, where they had been staging a sit-in since the midnight of July 20. Meanwhile, members of the CPI-affiliated All India Students' Federation (AISF) and All India Youth Federation (AIYF) staged a protest near Panagal Maligai in Guindy on Sunday, demanding the abolition of NEET and attempting to lay siege to Raj Bhavan.

After the Cockroach Janata Party called off the protest following the Pradhan's resignation and assurance to look into some of their demands, a large section of the protesters in Chennai went into chaos as they expected the movement to continue to scrap NEET.

A section of students and youth opposed ending the agitation, arguing that the movement had been launched primarily to press for the abolition of NEET, even though CJP didn't have such a demand at the national level. Based on Tamil Nadu's longstanding demands for abolishing NEET, they sought to carry on the protest. They accused the organisers of abandoning the core demand midway.

Reiterating the students' stance, Manirathinam said the State government should provide a permanent venue in Chennai where the anti-NEET agitation could continue peacefully until the Union government abolishes the examination. He said the campaign was intended to safeguard the aspirations of future medical students and would continue until its objective was achieved.

Instead, the ministry has recommended strengthening bus-based public transport, arguing that Bus Rapid Transit Systems (BRTS) would deliver comparable benefits at a significantly lower cost.

The Union government’s observations came in a communique to the State government following its renewed request, submitted in May, for approval. One of the principal reasons for rejecting the proposals, it stated, was the projected reduction in travel time does not justify the investment. Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) had estimated that Metro services would reduce travel time for an average 7.5-km peak-hour journey by around 8 minutes.

However, MoHUA argued that this calculation ignored the time commuters would spend walking to stations, waiting for trains and exiting stations at their destination. Once these factors are considered, the ministry concluded that the actual time saved would be minimal. It further observed that Metro Rail becomes significantly more attractive than road transport only for journeys of around 15 km or longer, whereas average trip lengths in Coimbatore and Madurai fall well below that threshold.

It also pointed out that TN itself had acknowledged the inadequacy of city bus services in Coimbatore. Without a strong feeder bus network and efficient last-mile connectivity, Metro systems would not attract sufficient commuters, it said.

Clarifying that it was not opposed to modern public transport solutions in both cities, the ministry stated that it had no objection to either at-grade or elevated BRTS, provided they offered efficient and affordable mobility. It also emphasised that population alone was not the sole criterion for approving Metro projects, but all technical, financial and operational parameters must collectively demonstrate the project’s viability.

“With the census 2027 announced, CMRL and the State government should take up newer data and other factors pointed out by the ministry to check if the project is feasible. If rejections continue, we’ll have to look for other options, like BRTS or drop any new transit services for the two cities at the moment,” said a retired railway official.

The Puzhal police registered a case based on a complaint from Indian Bank's Vinayagapuram branch manager Vijaya Lakshmi. According to the complaint, on June 23, a customer tried to withdraw Rs 20,000 from the bank ATM at Kalpalayam in Puzhal. Though cash was not dispensed, the customer received an SMS informing the debit.

During inspection with technical experts, the police found that unknown persons had pasted a sticker inside the cash slot. After customers left assuming the machine was faulty, the accused would remove the sticker and take the cash.

Based on CCTV footage, a police team identified and arrested the accused, Rajib Alam (30) and Niyazuddin (22) both from Tripura, on Saturday. Probe revealed that the duo had stolen over Rs 30,000 from ATMs using this method.

The police said the duo also face a similar case at Cholavaram police station. They were produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody. Stolen money worth Rs 10,000 was recovered from the accused.

The deceased were identified as R Ramaprasath (40) of Sengamalapatti and Innasimuthu (43) of Meenampatti. Ramachandran, brother of Ramaprasath, sustained 75% burn injuries and is undergoing treatment at the Government Hospital in Sivakasi.

The trio, along with a few others, had started manufacturing firecrackers illegally at around 4 am. "It had been very hot since early morning. The explosion occurred at around 8.30 am, and residents in the locality were startled by the loud blast," a resident said.

The explosion triggered a series of firecracker blasts, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky and causing panic among residents.

Personnel from the Fire and Rescue Services Department and the police rushed to the spot after receiving information about the incident. They brought the fire under control after a strenuous operation and launched rescue efforts.

Police suspect that two more people may have been involved in the illegal manufacturing activity. “The extreme heat might have caused the explosion,” said a source.

"The relatives of the deceased told us that two more persons from the same locality were involved in manufacturing firecrackers at the site. We are trying to identify and trace them," a police source said.

Police have registered a case and launched an investigation. Preliminary inquiries revealed that the illegal manufacturing unit was being operated on agricultural land owned by the deceased Ramaprasath. Residents told police that the group had been engaged in the activity for the past few months.

Virudhunagar Superintendent of Police Gautam Goyal, Sivakasi Deputy Superintendent of Police V Anilkumar, and revenue officials inspected the spot. Following the incident, the police team conducted raids at various places in Sivakasi Taluk and arrested 11 persons.

The latest accident comes just days after Industries Minister S Keerthana chaired a consultative meeting with fireworks manufacturers and traders in Sivakasi, where the government discussed measures to strengthen the industry's competitiveness and policy support.

In recent years, several workers have been killed in explosions at licensed and unlicensed fireworks units in and around Sivakasi. Investigations into such incidents have often pointed to violations of safety norms, overcrowding of work sheds, illegal storage of explosives and unauthorised manufacturing activities despite repeated interventions by the Madras High Court, which has issued strict directions on firecracker safety.

As a precautionary measure, TNSTC buses to Bengaluru were not operated until 2 pm. Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses, however, continued to run without disruption.

Buses from various parts of Tamil Nadu heading to Bengaluru and other destinations in Karnataka via Hosur terminated their trips at the Hosur bus stand after dropping passengers and later returned to their originating points.

Meanwhile, a large number of protesters gathered near the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border at Attibele and raised slogans condemning the Tamil Nadu government’s stance on the Mekedatu dam issue. The road blockade led to tension along the inter-state border, though normal transport services resumed after the protest was brought under control.

The two have been identified as Lusinath (30) and Vigneshwaran (31), both natives of Wattala. The police seized expensive mobile phones and a large amount of cash from them.

Subsequent inquiries by the Marine Police and Q Branch officers revealed that the two were wanted in Sri Lanka in connection with several cases, including smuggling drugs to countries such as Dubai and Saudi Arabia and for murder and robbery.

"Their call records showed that the last call was made to a Coimbatore number. Their mobile phones had contact details of persons in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Mumbai," the source said. Their email trails have revealed large money transactions, said the police.

The two told investigators they had left the Pechalai coast in Sri Lanka on Thursday night by paying Rs 3 lakh for passage on a fibre boat and landed at Kambipadu near Dhanushkodi around 4 am on Friday.

A case has been registered against them for entering India without valid travel documents.

Though the Marine Police initially planned to remand them in Puzhal Central Prison, the move was put on hold after the Q Branch informed them about the criminal cases against them in Sri Lanka. Officials are now consulting higher authorities on repatriating them. They have been shifted to a special camp in Tiruchy.

According to police, the victim is a 14-year-old student studying in the 10th standard at a local government school near Keezhadi. The accused, who resides in the victim's immediate neighbourhood, had reportedly been pressuring the schoolboy to engage in same-sex activity.

The matter came to light after the minor refused the advances, which resulted in the youth physically assaulting the boy. Following the incident, the victim's father lodged an official complaint with Keezhadi police, who sent them to Tiruppuvanam station. Police personnel there referred them to AWPS at Manamadurai.

The Manamadurai station registered a case under the Pocso Act and took the 16-year-old teen into custody.

The visit assumes political significance as it comes after the Congress joined the TVK-led government in the state. Gandhi last visited the state on May 10 to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

Confirming the visit, TNCC president B Manickam Tagore, in a social media post, said Tamil Nadu was preparing to extend a warm welcome to the Leader of the Opposition.

"This visit by Rahul Gandhi, who has been relentlessly fighting to safeguard the Constitution, strengthen democracy, establish social justice, and secure the future of the youth, will infuse fresh enthusiasm and inspiration among the Congress workers and people of Tamil Nadu," he said.

Tagore also said, "May our journey towards the goal of making Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister of India in 2029 gain even greater strength."

Speaking to reporters after arriving at Chennai airport from Kochi to attend the Congress district leaders' and functionaries' training camp at Mamallapuram, Venugopal demanded that Union Home Minister Amit Shah explain in Parliament who ordered the police lathi-charge on students on July 20.

Prof John assumed charge as registrar in June 2025 for an initial period of one year at a time when the university was functioning without a vice-chancellor. Under the university statutes, the registrar's tenure is three years. With her initial one-year term has already completed last month, syndicate will now extend her tenure for the remaining two years.

However, the move has attracted objection from a section of faculty members, who said the appointment process did not follow the prescribed procedure, which mandates that both the university senate and the syndicate should approve the appointment of a registrar.

They point out that the university senate has not met even once over the past year, making it inappropriate to approve the extension without first placing the matter before the senate.

Speaking with DT Next, Registrar John said the senate could not be convened due to an interim stay granted by the court in a case filed by a faculty member, who filed a case to allow him continue as an ex-officio member even after his tenure had ended in the senate.

She maintained that the syndicate alone has the statutory authority to appoint the registrar and that the senate only needs to be informed of the appointment. There is no procedural issue in granting the extension, she said.

Professor John added that the university cannot function effectively without a registrar, particularly at a time when it has been operating without a vice-chancellor. She added that her appointment was made with the knowledge and approval of the Higher Education Secretary, who heads the Convenor Committee currently administering the university.

Notably, when John was appointed registrar last year, some syndicate members had also raised objections, claiming they had not been informed in advance about the decision before she was appointed.

The Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, during his election campaign, promised the fishermen 3,500 litres of subsidised diesel per month, and he has yet to make an official announcement. 

"The present provision of 1,900 litres per month was made several decades back, and the time has changed, and the engines with high horsepower are being used at present.  The current subsidy is inadequate, and it cannot even help for a week,” A Thajudeen, General Secretary, Tamil Nadu Meenavar Peravai.

Thajudeen said that the direct credit of subsidy of Rs 15 per litre to the account of respective boat owners is laudable and appealed to the Chief Minister to announce it during the State budget, apart from the increased subsidised diesel of 3,500 litres per month.

On Saturday, the subsidised diesel was sold at Rs 82.32 per litre. “This amount itself is high, and most of our income has been spent on fuel, and the government should take note of the request and fulfil all the promises given during the election,” Thajudeen added.

According to official sources, Tamil Nadu has 34 fish landing centres, 254 fish landing points, 11 fishing ports (including the Chennai, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Pazhayar, Poompuhar, Mallipattinam, Thoothukudi, Chinnamuttom, Colochel, Muttom and Thengapattinam fishing harbours), 608 marine fishing villages and a fisherfolk population of 9.23 lakh persons.  

Marine fish production has been gradually increasing over the past decade or so in Tamil Nadu and accounts for approximately 12.5 per cent of the annual total marine fish production in India. Tamil Nadu’s annual percentage contribution to total fish production has been more or less steady over the years and is acclaimed to be the fifth largest marine fish producer in India.

In this scenario, the fishers have been appealing to the state government to concentrate on the minor fishing boats and provide proper facilities. As a result, the present TVK government has recently allotted a fund of Rs 50 lakh to study the feasibility to develop Mallipattinam fishing harbour, and the officials have commenced the study. 

“We are told that a fund of Rs 90 crore might be allocated for the restoration and construction of a proper fishing harbour, which was spoiled during the Gaja cyclone devastation,” said K Muthu, a representative of  Tamil Nadu Fishermen Association.

He pointed out that the Sethubavachatram fishing harbour in Thanjavur was constructed for Rs 10 crore, but the dredging activities had never taken place since its establishment, and as a result, the boats land during the low tide season and get damaged. The government should get the suggestions from the local fishermen association leaders, who would provide proper inputs, he said.

Meanwhile, Thangavel, a representative of the Deep Sea Fishermen Association, said that these minor harbours should have proper curved groins (Thoondil Valaivu) which would prevent the extremity of rough sea and hence, it would reduce damages of boats and the equipment and sometimes, human losses.

Apart from this, the landing places should have proper basic facilities, and each boat jetty should have a work area with basic amenities, which would be utilised for mending of nets and repair of machines.

The fishers believe that the department might be thinking that a low number of mechanised boats might reduce ‘poaching’ incidents and also bring down the subsequent arrests that have been a burning issue along the coastal belt across the state. However, fishers are now planning to approach the court, appealing to insist that the state government commence new registrations.

The Palk Bay, a narrow strip of mostly shallow water that separates Tamil Nadu in India and the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, has a total length of 137 km, and the width varies between 64 and 137 km. The bay divides both countries with the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). The bay extends from Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai to Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu, while in Sri Lanka, the bay extends from Jaffna, Mannar to Kilinochchi districts.

Despite a Maritime Boundary Agreement between India and Sri Lanka during 1974-76, there were complaints of the fishermen from both countries violating the agreement and poaching in the respective waters. 

The Indian fishers were often claimed to cross the IMBL for a better catch as the marine wealth was available in abundance close to Sri Lankan waters. Sources said that the access from the respective countries was easy between 1983 and 2009, but the security was tightened since then due to the situation prevailing post civil war in Sri Lanka.

In this scenario, the fishers from the region said that several of their counterparts had lost their mechanised boats during the Gaja cyclone devastation, and many of the families involved in fishing traditionally had to switch to alternate employment owing to heavy loss. Now, after finding adequate sources, those families which lost their boats had started buying boats (either new or used ones), unwilling to quit their traditional profession. But the registration for these boats has been restricted, and their wait for months has become futile, they complain.

“We suspect that there was a mutual consent between India and Sri Lanka on the restriction of the number of mechanised boats, and so, we are not given proper response from the officials on the new registration or name transfer of the boats. How would a reduced number of mechanised boats prevent violations? If the Sri Lankan government does not charge Indian fishermen with false claims, it would prevent the mid-sea violence, and so it is in the hands of the Sri Lankan government,” said A Thajudeen, General Secretary, Tamil Nadu Meenavar Peravai and President of Mechanised Boat Owners Association.

Thajudeen pointed out that there are more than 440 mechanised boats seized and kept under the possession of Sri Lanka till last year, and arrests of more than 3,000 fishermen have taken place to date. “Though the Sri Lankan government allows the release of arrested fishermen after legal proceedings, they are hesitant to release the boats that they had seized, and they get ruined there. Each boat costs between Rs 40 lakh and Rs 90 lakh based on the size and engine power. Once the boat is seized, the family too lose their livelihood”, Thajudeen said.

He said that the fishermen are keen on rebuilding their livelihood lost after Gaja cyclone devastation and started to resume the traditional profession but the failure in registration of boats prevents even the new player in the field. “For instance, there were around 300 mechanised boats at Mallipattinam fishing harbour in Thanjavur district till the Gaja cyclone, and now, only 140 are operational. The remaining people were limping up from their loss and started purchasing boats, either a new or a used one, but the officials unusually denied the registration. Only after the registration alone, the boats can venture for fishing”, he said.

The fishermen leaders sought permission to meet the Fisheries Minister in the Secretariat, and they were given time to meet him last week. “We went to the Secretariat last week with our grievances, sought expeditation of the registration process, and safe fishing by curbing frequent mid-sea attacks. But even after a long wait, the minister did not appear, nor was the department secretary present, and at around 1.30 pm, we were directed to meet the Additional Director of Fisheries, and we handed over the petition to him. We hope our demand will be fulfilled; otherwise, we find no option but to seek the support of the court,” Thajudeen said.

Muneeswaran, assistant professor of History at the Government Arts College for Women, Sivaganga, said the cave, measuring about 20 feet in length and seven feet in width, contains faded white and red ochre paintings, indicating that it may have served as a habitation site for prehistoric people. The cave, now locally known as Umai Pondhu, has been partially damaged over the centuries due to water erosion.

The newly documented white rock paintings depict a reptile-like figure, a long-necked stick-like human figure in a dancing posture and several symbols. Based on their characteristics, the paintings are estimated to date back about 3,000 years, he said.

The survey also found iron slag and fragments of baked-clay tuyeres, which were likely used to channel air into furnaces during the iron-smelting process. The findings suggest that the inhabitants possessed the knowledge to extract and smelt iron from locally available iron-bearing rocks to manufacture iron implements.

Acknowledging the significance of the discovery, renowned art historian Gandhirajan KT said an examination of the cave paintings suggested that the site could date back to around 3,000 BCE or even earlier.

"Though the number of paintings is less in number, they reflect the creative expression of ancient communities. Carrying out systematic surface explorations along the Western Ghats in southern Tamil Nadu is important, as it could help establish ancient trade routes between present-day Tamil Nadu and Kerala long before the formation of the modern states," he said.

He added that archaeologists should also document local oral traditions and folklore associated with the area to help reconstruct its historical past.

Speaking to reporters in Erode, Sengottaiyan said it had been the practice for representatives of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister to visit Karnataka with official letters whenever the Cauvery water dispute arose. "During the tenure of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, O Panneerselvam and CVe Shanmugam visited Karnataka on her behalf. During the DMK regime, Duraimurugan represented the State. It was only after such efforts that the matter was taken to the courts," he said.

The minister said Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay was now taking up the responsibility of representing Tamil Nadu's interests in the Cauvery issue and there was nothing wrong in it.

Referring to the State's political scenario, Sengottaiyan said people had sought a change and supported TVK, leading to the formation of its government.

In an indirect reference to AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, he said, "One person is still dreaming that he too can become Chief Minister. Everyone from the AIADMK has joined us."

Sengottaiyan also claimed that the TVK would have won all 234 Assembly constituencies if the film Jana Nayagan had been released before the elections. He further said that 18 per cent of the population in Erode district was affected by cancer and announced that steps were being taken to establish a hospital in Erode to provide specialised treatment.

According to official data, 8,811 candidates received tentative allotment orders, while 19,739 were issued provisional allotment orders.

Among students from the academic stream, 8,016 were issued tentative allotments and 17,034 received provisional allotments. Under the 7.5% reservation for government school students, 560 tentative and 1,683 provisional allotment orders were issued. In the vocational stream, 175 candidates received tentative allotments and 886 were issued provisional allotments. Under the 7.5% government school reservation, 60 tentative and 136 provisional allotment orders were granted.

Officials said candidates with tentative allotment orders must visit their designated TNEA Facilitation Centre (TFC), submit original certificates for verification and pay the tuition fee on or before July 30. Completion of these formalities will confirm their seat while also making them eligible in subsequent rounds of counselling.

Candidates with provisional allotment orders must report directly to their allotted colleges and complete the admission process by July 30.

Authorities warned that candidates who fail to report either to TFCs or their allotted colleges within the deadline will forfeit their seats. And these seats will be offered to other eligible candidates seeking upward movement within the first round of counselling.

Speaking to reporters after inaugurating a series of indoor sports facilities at the Nehru Stadium, the Minister said the government would act on any evidence-based complaint regarding irregularities in the project executed during the previous regime.

A Congress councillor, at the recent Coimbatore Corporation Council meeting, alleged irregularities to the tune of Rs 40 crore in the execution of the Semmozhi Poonga project.

Responding to questions on the Supreme Court's directions concerning the appointment of 54 junior assistants in the Coimbatore Corporation, Sampath Kumar said the court's order would be implemented in accordance with the prescribed procedures. "There was no political pressure on officials to prevent the cancellation of the appointments," he said.

Asked about criticism of TVK ministers becoming emotional after watching Jananayagan, the Minister said he had been a fan of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay for the past 30 years. "Since Jananayagan is his last film, we became emotional. There is no need to politicise the issue," he said.

On opposition to the proposed sewage treatment plant at Chinnavedampatti, Sampath Kumar said the project would not cause any inconvenience to residents and stressed the need to create greater public awareness about its benefits.

He also said construction of the Periyar Library was progressing and that the facility would soon be opened for public use.