Sivaganga:Senior Congress leader and RS member P Chidambaram announced on Thursday an allocation of Rs 2 crore from his MPLAD funds to equip a new Cath lab at the Sivaganga Government Hospital. Addressing a press briefing to detail the utilisation of his constituency funds, the former union minister also dispelled media claims that he had conducted an official audit of the local healthcare facility. “A newspaper reported that I inspected the general hospital. I did no such inspection. I went there to ask what their requirements were and only sat in the Dean’s room,” Chidambaram clarified.

Following discussions with the hospital’s Dean and the District Collector, he said three urgent requirements were identified: a Cath lab for angiograms, a dedicated ambulance, and a waiting shelter for patients and their attendees. Acting on the request, Chidambaram said he immediately approved the medical equipment.

“They said it would cost Rs 4 crore -- Rs 2 crore for the building and Rs 2 crore for the equipment. I am giving Rs 2 crore from the MP funds for the equipment. I told them to construct the building from government funds,” he stated.

He added that the ambulance would be funded once formal quotations are received, while the waiting shelter is being deferred to next year’s budget. Detailing broader constituency development, the Rajya Sabha member noted that six infrastructure projects are currently nearing completion in the district, 14 are underway and expected to open early next year, and 12 new requests are currently being processed for tenders.

Chennai Corpn crosses 1.5 lakh mark in anti-rabies vaccination drive

Chennai:To realise Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s vision of a rabies-free Tamil Nadu, the Greater Chennai Corporation has successfully vaccinated 1,50,303 stray dogs against rabies across the city between August 11 and October 21.

An official release on Thursday from Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) said launched to safeguard the public and eradicate rabies from Chennai, the mega initiative involves administering anti-rabies vaccinations alongside endo and ecto-parasiticidal (internal and external parasite control) treatments to stray dogs.

According to Corporation Commissioner G S Sameeran, the vaccination and parasite-control drive has reached 12,313 dogs in the Thiruvottiyur Zone, 7,200 dogs in the Manali Zone, 15,038 dogs in the Madhavaram Zone, 12,477 dogs in the Tondiarpet Zone, 8,598 dogs in the Royapuram Zone, and 13,849 dogs in the Thiru Vi Ka Nagar Zone. In addition, the GCC has vaccinated 21,844 dogs in the Ambattur Zone, 11,895 dogs in the Anna Nagar Zone, 7,782 dogs in the Teynampet Zone, 10,131 dogs in the Kodambakkam Zone, 4,343 dogs in the Alandur Zone, and 12,752 dogs in the Perungudi Zone. The release further said that the vaccination and parasite-control drive is currently active in the Valasaravakkam, Adyar, and Sholinganallur zones, where the GCC has already covered 3,943, 3,985, and 4,153 stray dogs respectively.

GCC has also appealed to the general public, pet owners, and animal welfare activists to extend their full cooperation to successfully achieve the ultimate goal of a “Rabies-Free Chennai.”