Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai   

Panel to suggest steps to prevent Chromepet GH flooding

By K. Manikandan

CHENNAI DEC. 5 . Eradication of pig menace at the Government Hospital of Thoracic Medicine at Tambaram Sanatorium and a permanent solution to water stagnation at the Chromepet Government Hospital are high on the agenda of the `environment improvement committee' formed in the last week of November.

According to the Health Secretary, Girija Vaidyanathan, who constituted the committee, there were a lot "of requirements in terms of improved maintenance and to improve hygiene levels" in the hospitals. Giving a fillip to social forestry, landscaping, construction of toilets and provision of dust bins and to enforce civic practices among the visitors in the Sanatorium GH would form part of the strategies to be chalked out.

The Kancheepuram Collector, K. Rajaraman, and officials from other government agencies, including local bodies, Tamilnadu AIDS Control Society, PWD and TWAD Board were present at the meeting. The Health Secretary said the committee would arrive at steps to be taken to ensure water flow out of Sanatorium GH and to prevent flooding of the Chromepet GH.

Construction of proper walls around the Sanatorium GH to ensure that pigs did not enter the premises had been thought of. Regarding prevention of inundation in Chromepet GH, two alternatives had been thought of — either create an outlet from the hospital or prevent entry of water into the premises in the first place.

However, the exact nature of works to be taken up in both the hospitals would be known after a draft was prepared. The Health Secretary pointed out that a hospital advisory committee for Chromepet GH was already in existence. As the Sanatorium GH came under the control of the Stanley Medical College, the presence of Mr. Rajaraman in the committee would help in coordinating with government agencies for executing the projects, she said.

During an interaction, S.R. Raja, Tambaram Municipal Chairman, regretted that the PWD and Highways Department staff were not working as swiftly as they ought to and hoped the formation of the committee would enthuse them. Pointing out that the Government found itself in a cash-strapped situation, he wondered if the committee would be able to identify resources for the works.

Residents pointed out to blocked culverts across the GST Road and the shrinking Veeraghavan lake, which, they said, was a cause for inundation. Further, flow of sewage from the TNHB Quarters into the Chromepet GH worsened the situation. Residents wanted to know what steps would be taken immediately to bale out stagnated water.

Residents also complained that bio-medical waste at the Chromepet GH was not being disposed properly. Chromepet GH doctors said the same was being transported once or twice a week to the Sanatorium GH and burnt in the incinerator. P. Parameshwar, Superintendent of Sanatorium GH, said the meeting pertained to problems only at the Chromepet GH, as pig menace had been eradicated at his hospital.

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