Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister R. Nirmalkumar, while presenting a White Paper on the status of the State electricity department today (June 25, 2026), said the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL), Tamil Nadu Power Generation Corporation Limited (TNPGCL), Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Limited (TNGECL), and TANTRANSCO have sustained heavy losses, with the total debt of the four corporations standing at ₹2.47 lakh crore.
The report highlighted deficiencies in electricity infrastructure, power generation, and manpower, and stressed the need to replace ageing transmission and distribution infrastructure.
In the first major crackdown after the TVK came to power, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) launched simultaneous searches on the premises of former State Highways Minister E.V. Velu, officials, and contractors in connection with an alleged corruption case.
Acting on a 2022 complaint lodged by Jayaram Venkatesan of Arappor Iyakkam, an NGO fighting corruption in Tamil Nadu, the agency booked Mr. Velu, several officials of the Highways Department, and a highways contractor on charges of criminal conspiracy, forgery, and cheating, and invoked provisions under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The toll in the ammonia gas leak at a seafood processing and export facility in Tiruvallur district climbed to 11 after another woman from Odisha died. The victim was identified as Rita Juanga.
Currently, 67 persons – 64 women and three men – are undergoing treatment.
In a sharp retort to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s “Where is your father?” jab, DMK president M.K. Stalin said he was in the people’s hearts.
Speaking at a wedding reception at the residence of former DMK Minister Mathivanan in Tirurvarur, Mr. Stalin said: “I signed the file providing a monthly grant of ₹1,000 to women under the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai scheme. You can find Stalin there. Look at the file for the Pudhumai Penn scheme, under which ₹1,000 is provided (to girl students) every month; you would find my signature there. The Tamil Pudhalvan scheme provides ₹1,000 (to boy students); Stalin will be there, too.”
Amid a political row over his conduct, Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister P. Viswanathan expressed regret while insisting his act of providing “first aid” to students during a marathon event in Madurai had been wrongly portrayed.
In a statement issued through the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, Mr. Viswanathan said some students who had participated in the 4-km run fainted because of the intense heat and he had stepped in to assist the affected students purely out of humanitarian concern.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting to reconsider the Government of India’s decision of proposed disinvestment of its equity in Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) India Limited.
“The Government of Tamil Nadu strongly opposes, in principle, any further dilution of the Government of India’s equity in NLC India Limited. This issue is of special significance to Tamil Nadu, as NLC India is intrinsically linked to the State through its origin, growth and continuing operations,” Mr. Vijay said in his letter.
Published - June 25, 2026 07:38 pm IST