Five developments on September 23, 2026 — Day 136: CM Vijay reviews Cooum River Restoration (global tender in 1 month); visits TANGEDCO HQ amid power cuts crisis; visits TVK MLA V.S. Babu at MGM Healthcare Hospital; announces Rs 75 lakh for TN cricketer Gunalan Kamalini (Asian Games gold); directs Collectors on NE Monsoon landslide preparedness.
September 23, 2026 — Day 136 — was one of CM Vijay’s most active governance days since his return from London. Five significant developments spanning urban environment, power supply, healthcare, sports and disaster preparedness.
CM Vijay reviewed the progress of the Cooum River restoration project and directed officials to implement the work through an integrated, sustainable and phased approach. A global tender for the detailed project plan is expected to be floated within one month. A 3-km stretch is proposed as the initial demonstration project before the full restoration is rolled out. The Cooum, which flows through the heart of Chennai before emptying into the Bay of Bengal, has suffered decades of encroachment and pollution. Its revival has been a long-standing civic demand.
Amid mounting complaints of unannounced power cuts across Tamil Nadu driven by a heatwave and seasonal wind deficit (~1,500 MW below normal this September), CM Vijay visited the TANGEDCO headquarters on Anna Salai. He reviewed power generation capacity, distribution bottlenecks and demand-fulfillment measures with senior officials. Outages of up to two hours have been reported in Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, Tirunelveli and other districts, with residents blocking roads and protesting outside EB offices. TANGEDCO identified 20 black-spot areas in Chennai for priority attention. Officials present: Electricity Minister CTR Nirmal Kumar, TANGEDCO CMD Radhakrishnan, Finance Secretary Siddiq.
CM Vijay visited TVK MLA V.S. Babu at MGM Healthcare Hospital in Chennai and personally inquired about his health. The hospital confirmed that MLA Babu’s condition was stable and that he was responding satisfactorily to treatment. The visit reflects Vijay’s consistent personal attention to the welfare of party MLAs and their families.
On September 22, CM Vijay congratulated the Indian women’s cricket team on winning the gold medal at the Asian Games 2026. He separately announced a ₹75 lakh cash reward for Tamil Nadu player Gunalan Kamalini, recognising her contribution to the team’s success. The announcement continues the TVK government’s consistent policy of honouring Tamil Nadu athletes who bring laurels at Asian and international competitions — Elavenil Valarivan (10m air rifle double silver) was congratulated two days earlier.
The Tamil Nadu government directed all District Collectors to closely monitor landslide-prone areas and strengthen preparedness measures ahead of the Northeast Monsoon (October–December 2026). The directive focuses on early monitoring and swift action to protect lives, with particular attention to hilly and coastal districts historically vulnerable to rain-triggered landslides.
Cooum Restoration TANGEDCO Power Crisis Kamalini ₹75 Lakh September 23 2026 Day 136