Urban News

The Deccan Chronicle  13.10.2010

Oct. 12: Being bitten by dogs is turning into a perennial nuisance in the city. It’s a daily battle between man and animal on the streets of Chennai. Every day, nearly 30 people turn up at the anti-rabies vaccine unit in the outpatient department of the government general hospital, with the numbers crossing 50 on Monday, when the unit opens for the week. Doctors also treat a few cases of cat bites, rat bites and monkey bites every day, with simian bites more common in areas like Otteri, Kokkurpet and Vannarpettai.

“The number of dog bite cases spike during the monsoon, which is the littering season for animals. Youngsters and middle-aged people form most of the patients, who get bitten either while accidentally stepping on a dog or approaching newborn puppies,” says a doctor at the unit.

However, with the wide availability of the intra-dermal anti-rabies vaccine, the number of patients succumbing to the deadly viral disease has drastically reduced over the years, says another senior government doctor. “Till a few years ago, we used to see at least 70-100 cases of rabies a year, which has now dropped to a maximum of 20,” he says. These numbers can drop further if patients come in for all four shots of the vaccine on the proper date, and if those in rural areas do not resort to ineffective indigenous treatments, he points out.

The Animal Welfare Board of India will instruct the local bodies to intensify the drive to vaccinate street dogs if the numbers turn unmanageable, a member of the Board said.

The Deccan Chronicle  12.10.2010

Oct. 11: The presence of a cement mixing plant in the vicinity is causing Santhome flat owners much concern. Since the plant works round-the-clock, these emanations are causing sleepless nights for nearly 50 harried families, including parents who fear that their children may be afflicted by respiratory diseases.

“We have been at the receiving end of this problem for the last three years. As the cement mixing plant is situated in close proximity to the residential apartments in Anthu street on Santhome High Road, nearly a hundred residents who are living in this area are facing a serious threat from hazardous dust particles,” said Karthik, a resident of Anthu street.

The cement plant that catered to the demands of some major construction projects in the city, was later taken over by the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board (TNSCB) for its project. “The cement plant is being operated by TNSCB for its housing projects and we are in the dark about its environmental clearance,” said a Chennai corporation official of its zonal office, Santhome.

“We have already filed so many complaints to the Chennai corporation and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board. The issue has also been raised in the state assembly. Though we are residing close to the beach area, we cannot even open our doors and windows because of the heavy dust,” complains a housewife, whose apartment is situated just behind the cement-mixing plant.

According to Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board officials, all dust-emitting industries and plants have to be properly enclosed and covered. “We insist on conveyor belts for all the dust-handling industries within city limits and frequent water sprinkling should be done on the boundary as per requirement,” said a senior TNPCB official.

Officials of the slum clearance board were not available for comment.