Deccan Chronicle 19.01.2010

Microchips to keep tabs on domestic dogs in Pondy

Jan. 18: The Puducherry municipality has mooted a proposal to implant microchips in pet dogs in the Union Territory to keep a strict tab on the condition of their health including their vaccination details and for easy identification.

It has identified a private agency for procuring the microchips and would supply them at cost price to dog-breeders. To start with, the microchips will be implanted in domestic dogs in Puducherry municipal limits from April this year.

“A total of 13,109 domestic dogs in Puducherry municipal limits would be implanted with microchips. The microchip, the size of a rice grain, is implanted under the skin of the animal between its neck and shoulder blades by using a syringe. The chip contains a unique identification number that is registered by an electronic reader. Based on the response from dog-breeders, the project would be expanded to other municipalities in the Union Territory,” municipal commissioner D. Asokan told this newspaper.

“Very often it becomes difficult to trace the owner of a dog that has been abandoned on the streets. By ensuring that all domestic dogs are registered, municipal officials can now easily identify the owner and settle ownership disputes,” municipality veterinary medical officer S. Gandhimathi said.

The microchips will contain complete information about the dog, including its age, details of anti-rabies vaccination, owner’s name, address and telephone number. The unique identity numbers embedded on the chips will stay with the animal for the rest of its life and cannot be duplicated.

The process would put an end to the cumbersome procedure of issuing collar straps and metal batches while granting licences to domestic dogs.

The Hindu 19.01.2010

Tenders for Anna Nagar link road to be called soon: Balsamy

Special Correspondent

TIRUCHI: Tiruchi Corporation would soon call for tenders for the construction of the inner link road that would connect the Anna Nagar Main Road and Cantonment in the city, according to Commissioner T.T.Balsamy.

The project is estimated to cost about Rs.4.2 crore. The Corporation had begun preliminary works by laying kutcha roads along the Uyyankonda river and the district court complex building last year, but the work had come to a standstill after some time.

The Corporation has already obtained the ‘enter upon permission,’ for the land belonging to District Court. The Corporation has also built a compound wall for the complex as part of a land transfer agreement. However, acquisition of some private lands was yet to be completed. Corporation officials expect the process to be completed soon.

“The administrative sanction has been obtained and we would soon get the technical sanction. Tenders for the project would be called in different packages for laying the roads, building a new bridge across the Uyyakondan and construction of storm water drains,” Mr.Balsamy told The Hindu.

Tendering process

The tendering process is expected to be completed in about 45 days after which the works would begin, he said.

The new link road would have to be laid for about 685 metres at a cost of Rs.1.70 crore, while the bridge, running for a length of 35.60 metres and a width of 10.5 metres, would cost another Rs.1.70 crore.

The project is being taken up utilising a grant of Rs.1.2 crore from the Seed Capital Assistance Scheme of the Department of Town and Country Planning. The Corporation would raise Rs.1.20 crore by way of loans and contribute Rs.80 lakh.

The link road was originally proposed as part of the Karur Bypass Road, laid over a decade back.

By providing an important link across the Uyyakondan river, which runs across the city, it would ease the congestion in Thillai Nagar and Woraiyur areas.