The new government in West Bengal has approved several pending land proposals linked to border security and infrastructure development along the India-Bangladesh border. The decision comes weeks after the BJP-led administration under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari assumed office in the state.

According to reports, the state cabinet has decided to release more than 600 acres of land for fencing work across border districts. Officials said the move is aimed at strengthening security along the nearly 2,200-km India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal, where fencing work on several stretches had remained incomplete.

Sources said around 1,600 km of the border is already fenced, while work on the remaining stretches had faced delays over land acquisition and administrative clearances during the previous Trinamool Congress government led by Mamata Banerjee.

The state government has also reportedly approved the transfer of nearly 120 acres near the strategically important Siliguri Corridor, commonly known as the “Chicken’s Neck” area, to strengthen national security infrastructure in North Bengal.

Apart from border-related projects, the Bengal cabinet has cleared the handover of seven highway stretches to the National Highways Authority of India and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited for development work. Officials said the projects had been pending for nearly a year due to the absence of formal approvals.

The highway projects are expected to improve connectivity across North Bengal and border districts including Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia and North 24 Parganas. The upgraded routes are also likely to strengthen links with Sikkim, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

The decision is expected to formally take effect after agreements are signed between the state government and the Border Security Force in the coming weeks.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has enforced Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR after the region’s air quality slipped into the “poor” category. Authorities said unfavourable weather conditions were contributing to rising pollution levels in the national capital and surrounding areas.

According to CAQM, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) crossed the threshold that triggers GRAP-I restrictions, which are imposed when AQI levels remain between 201 and 300. Forecasts by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) indicate that air quality may continue to remain in the poor category over the coming days.

The restrictions include stricter dust control measures at construction and demolition sites, intensified road cleaning, water sprinkling, and checks on polluting vehicles. Open burning of waste and the use of coal or wood in commercial eateries are also prohibited under the first stage of GRAP.

Officials said all agencies concerned across NCR have been directed to closely monitor the implementation of pollution-control measures to prevent further deterioration in air quality. The CAQM sub-committee will continue reviewing the situation based on weather forecasts and pollution trends.

GRAP is a set of emergency anti-pollution measures implemented in phases depending on AQI levels. Stage I is activated under the “poor” category, while stricter curbs are introduced as pollution levels worsen.

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M. K. Stalin has reportedly told party district secretaries to remain prepared for a possible political change in the state, claiming that the government led by Vijay “can fall anytime”.

According to reports, Stalin made the remarks during an internal interaction with party functionaries following the recent political developments in Tamil Nadu. He reportedly asked DMK leaders and cadres to stay ready for elections at any moment amid speculation over the stability of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government.

The comments come days after Vijay’s TVK formed the government in Tamil Nadu following a dramatic post-election phase. TVK had emerged as the single-largest party in the Assembly elections but initially faced uncertainty over securing enough support to form the government.

Stalin questions TVK’s political rise

Stalin also reportedly criticised TVK’s campaigning style and suggested that the party gained influence through social media outreach and youth engagement. He maintained that despite the electoral defeat, DMK’s welfare schemes and governance legacy still continue to influence the state.

The DMK leader is also said to have announced a review process within the party to assess the reasons behind its election setback and gather constituency-level feedback from workers and the public.

Political tensions continue in Tamil Nadu

The political atmosphere in Tamil Nadu has remained tense since the Assembly election results. Several reports over the past week have highlighted intense negotiations, alliance discussions, and concerns around government stability before Vijay finally took oath as Chief Minister.

Some DMK leaders have also publicly questioned the durability of the new administration, adding to the political confrontation between the two camps.