Withdrawal of all cases against protesting farmers and teachers (May 2021–Apr 2026) including Parandur and SIPCOT agitations. ₹4,800 Cr Minjur desalination plant (400 MLD). ₹547 Cr waste-to-energy for Salem and Tirunelveli. Digital DL and RC from September 15.
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay made a series of welfare announcements in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Wednesday under Rule 110, covering drinking water infrastructure, the withdrawal of cases against protesting farmers and teachers, waste-to-energy projects, and the digitisation of driving licences and vehicle registration certificates.
The centrepiece of today's announcement is a 400 MLD (million litres per day) seawater desalination plant at Minjur, at a cost of ₹4,800 crore. The plant will meet the drinking water requirements of north Chennai, Avadi, Ponneri and Minjur — areas that currently face acute water stress and depend heavily on groundwater extraction.
| Project | Location | Outlay |
|---|---|---|
| 400 MLD Seawater Desalination Plant | Minjur (North Chennai) | ₹4,800 Cr |
| 24-hour drinking water to all households | Avadi Corporation | ₹500 Cr |
| Water facility upgrades (2 corporations, 9 municipalities, 20 town panchayats) | Madurai, Cuddalore + others | ₹1,000 Cr |
| Renovation of 33 old combined drinking water schemes (Phase 1) | Statewide | ₹300 Cr |
| Chennai Kilpauk Water Treatment Plant capacity enhancement | Chennai | ₹410 Cr |
| Total (confirmed figures) | ₹7,010 Cr+ |
Vijay announced the withdrawal of all cases registered against farmers and teachers between May 2021 and April 2026 for peacefully protesting for their livelihood, rights and legitimate demands. The decision was described as being taken on humanitarian grounds and in keeping with democratic principles.
The announcement specifically covered:
| Protest | Context |
|---|---|
| Tiruvannamalai SIPCOT agitation | Farmers booked under the Goondas Act for opposing the industrial estate — cases to be withdrawn |
| Parandur airport agitation | Farmers who protested the loss of agricultural land and water bodies over 1,100 days — cases to be withdrawn |
| Melma SIPCOT protests | Farmers opposing the Melma industrial project — cases to be withdrawn |
| Teachers' peaceful protests | Teachers booked for agitating for legitimate service demands between May 2021 and April 2026 |
The period May 2021 to April 2026 covers the entirety of the previous DMK government's tenure. The announcement directly addresses cases filed under that administration against those who opposed its projects.
Two new Waste-to-Energy plants were announced:
| Location | Capacity | Outlay |
|---|---|---|
| Tirunelveli Municipal Corporation | 9 MW | ₹256 Cr |
| Salem Municipal Corporation | 10 MW | ₹291 Cr |
| Combined | 19 MW | ₹547 Cr |
Vijay announced that Tamil Nadu would roll out digital driving licences and vehicle registration certificates from September 15, 2026:
Digital RCs will be issued for all newly purchased vehicles statewide from September 15. Applicants passing driving tests from that date will receive digital licences on the same day. The digital documents will carry QR codes for electronic verification and can be re-downloaded if lost or damaged. Transport services will progressively be brought under an Anywhere Registration and Licensing system, allowing citizens to complete transport-related paperwork at any authorised centre in the state rather than only at their home district office.
Opposition leader Udhayanidhi Stalin raised the ongoing protest by more than 2,000 sanitary workers of the Greater Chennai Corporation during the session. The CB-CID cybercrime wing separately registered a case over an AI-generated deepfake video purportedly involving CM Vijay, which was circulated on social media platforms. The investigation is ongoing.
Drinking Water Farmers Teachers Assembly September 2, 2026