Good morning, Chennai!
⛅ Today’s weather: Cloudy weather with some sunshine.
🧐 Did you know? The Marmalong Bridge was the first bridge built across the Adyar River. It was built by an Armenian named Coderjee Petrus Uscan with his own money in 1726.
🐕 Canine issues
Stray dogs are affected by health issues post Animal Birth Control surgeries by the Corporation.
What’s happening? Animal activists say stray dogs in the city have been affected by health issues like rashes after the Chennai Corporation carried out the surgeries. Some have even died. The Corporation has refuted the allegations.
- The Corporation said the dogs that have died are due to the contagious canine distemper virus. It’s a fatal virus that’s most common in summer and winter. They’ll soon be vaccinated against this.
- Activists are unhappy since the Corporation hasn’t improved its waste management and regulations of slaughterhouses and meat shops, leading to dogs getting infected.
Corporation’s fault: Some activists claim the Corporation is apathetic. They want to reduce the stray dog population and aren’t caring for them post-surgery. Also, some claim the surgery should be done only on healthy dogs and not on those infected with canine distemper, an airborne disease.
🍻 Unlicensed bars
Despite warnings, unlicensed bars attached to TASMAC outlets continue to operate.
What’s it about? Unlicensed bars attached to Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) outlets are still operational, especially in the evenings. Over the past few weeks, 260 FIRs were filed for illegal bars.
- In places like Egmore, people can be seen drinking outside closed bars. In some locations where bars were ordered to close, they now sell snacks, water bottles, and some food.
- In some bars, the lights are turned off in the late hours of the night, and customers still drink on the premises and in the surrounding areas.
Government response: Minister S Muthusamy said it’s difficult for the government to monitor the outlets and bars round the clock. TASMAC officials recently closed down 77 bars on the city’s outskirts. With ongoing court cases, the tender process for TASMAC bars hasn’t been floated yet.
⚕️ Increased bone marrow transplants
The number of bone marrow transplants at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital has increased.
What’s it about? In the past year, the number of procedures was 47, including 29 children. The hospital’s Department of Haematology has assessed a 90% success rate in these procedures.
- Since the department was established in 2018, 75 patients have undergone transplants. The usual number every year is 10, but that increased. The procedure is covered under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme.
- Most of the patients had inherited the bone marrow failure syndrome. It’s dominant in children, particularly when they’re seven or eight years. The hospital performs different types of procedures like autologous and allogeneic matched related.
Government facilities stepping up: Haploidentical transplants weren’t done in government hospitals until a year ago since people were worried about the outcomes. They’re complex and cost ₹50-75 lakh in private hospitals. The Rajiv Gandhi Hospital is being supported by German stem cell donors.
🛋️ New furniture facility
Haworth will set up its new furniture-making facility in Chennai.
What’s it about? The global furniture manufacturer Haworth Inc will set up its new facility in the city with a $8-10 million investment. It’s expected to become operational in three years.
- The current facility in the city is only enough to make furniture for the Indian market. The new facility will help the company meet the increasing demand for India and the Asia Pacific.
- Company President Henning Figge said the Indian market is growing, and he’s optimistic about it. The demand comes mostly from IT companies setting up offices in tier 2 cities.
📊 Today’s Poll
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Have you tried online gambling?
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❓ Today’s Question
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Where’s the best place in the city for a buffet?
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🗞️ In other news…
- Bunk shops have overrun the pavements on Ethiraj Salai outside Spencer’s Plaza.
- The Gengu Reddy subway hasn’t been well maintained and is a tricky prospect for pedestrians.
- Read the story of Khadija Beevi, a recently-retired nurse with a 30-year career at a Villupuram primary health centre.
- Chennai’s forecast for the next few days is dry with higher temperatures.
- The Chennai Corporation will begin a weekly furniture collection drive to prevent residents from abandoning it on the roads.
That’s it for today. Have a great day!