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Chennai sees a modest 12 per cent reduction in pollution levels, yet lags in NCAP targets

Chennai sees a modest 12 per cent reduction in pollution levels, yet lags in NCAP targets

CHENNAI: Chennai has witnessed only a 'modest' improvement in air quality despite being part of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) launched in 2019.
According to the data presented by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in the Lok Sabha, the average concentration of PM10 levels in Chennai dropped by 12.1% in the year 2024-25 compared to 2017-18 --far below the reductions achieved by other major cities like Mumbai (44%), Kolkata (37%), and even Delhi (15.8%).
The city's annual average PM10 concentration was reduced from 66 µg/m3 (microgram per cubic meter) in 2017-18 to 58 µg/m3 in 2024-25. While this places Chennai closer to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) of 60 µg/m3, experts say the progress is incremental and insufficient given the scale of urbanisation, traffic congestion, and construction activity.
'The figures may look acceptable on paper, but the health impact remains tangible. We continue to see rising respiratory cases in urban centres like Chennai,' a senior pulmonologist at the Government General Hospital, told TNIE.
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Euthanasia only for sick dogs, not for strays, clarify activists
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New Indian Express

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  • New Indian Express

Euthanasia only for sick dogs, not for strays, clarify activists

CHENNAI: Amid reports claiming that the Tamil Nadu government has issued an order allowing euthanasia of stray dogs suffering from terminal illnesses or injuries, animal rights activists have clarified that no such directive has been issued for free-roaming dogs. They, however, acknowledged that such provisions already exists in Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules 2023, which the state can adopt if necessary. The confusion appears to have stemmed from a government gazette notification issued in September 2024, which pertains specifically to dogs under the care of licenced breeders and not strays. According to Section 18 of the notification, part of the state dog breeding policy, euthanasia is permitted only for mortally wounded, incurably sick, or terminally ill dogs, and even then, must be conducted by a registered veterinary practitioner with full documentation, including a post-mortem report. This policy does not apply to stray or free-roaming dogs, contrary to the misinformation being circulated by some media outlets which claimed that the veterinary department had issued a G.O allowing euthanasia of strays as a measure to control the spread of diseases, including rabies. Speaking to TNIE, a Chennai corporation veterinary officer confirmed that no such instruction has been given by the government.

India-US trade deal and farm produce import
India-US trade deal and farm produce import

Time of India

timea day ago

  • Time of India

India-US trade deal and farm produce import

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Multiple agencies like ISAAA and Biofortified have shown in extensive studies and diverse analyses that in all these years of GM cultivation, there have been no reports of adverse health effects on humans or animals, reiterating the substantial equivalence of GM with conventional crops. 1785 studies on GMO safety are available on the informalhealthcase website. The European Union report, based on 130 research projects conducted over 25 years and involving more than 500 independent research groups, concluded that GM crops were as safe as the conventionally bred ones. In its affidavit filed with the Supreme Court in the GM Mustard case, MOEF stated, 'India is already importing and consuming oil derived from GM crops. Opposition to such technology based on unfounded fears of adverse impact is only hurting farmers, consumers and industry'. So, the safety of GM foods should not be a concern for consumers. 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Lack of birth control centres, shortage of vets, leads to spike in dog bites, rabies deaths across south India
Lack of birth control centres, shortage of vets, leads to spike in dog bites, rabies deaths across south India

The Hindu

time2 days ago

  • The Hindu

Lack of birth control centres, shortage of vets, leads to spike in dog bites, rabies deaths across south India

Dog bite incidents remain a significant public health issue across southern India, with rabies-related deaths continuing to rise, despite various measures to control the problem. According to the government's response to the Lok Sabha on July 22, 2025, over 37 lakh dog bite cases and 54 suspected rabies deaths were recorded in 2024. The National Centre for Disease Control confirmed 37 lakh dog bite cases and 54 suspected human rabies deaths that year. The government has placed the responsibility for managing the stray dog population on municipalities. In a written reply, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, S.P. Singh Baghel stated that the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Programme is being implemented across the country to regulate stray dog numbers. However, despite ongoing sterilisation drives and vaccination campaigns, data from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and Kerala indicate that the problem is far from resolved. 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Meanwhile, in Karnataka, 2024 saw 3.6 lakh dog bite cases and 42 rabies deaths. This situation has persisted into 2025, with Bangalore Urban reporting 8,878 dog bites between January and June. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) region, which includes the city's core, recorded 13,831 cases in just six months. Although no rabies deaths were reported in these areas during this period, Bangalore Urban was responsible for 9 of the 19 Statewide rabies fatalities. The situation in the city, particularly in poorer areas, reflects the ongoing challenges in controlling the stray dog population, despite efforts in more affluent neighbourhoods where government agencies are active. In Telangana, Hyderabad has also seen a dramatic increase in dog bite cases, which more than doubled from 10,078 incidents in 2022 to 21,131 in 2024. The situation is dire, with Greater Hyderabad now reporting over 100 dog bites every day. Between 2021 and 2024, the State recorded over 3.3 lakh dog bite cases, with Hyderabad contributing significantly to this total. Local residents have expressed fear about letting their children play outside due to aggressive stray dogs. 'Only because I live in a society that has banned stray dogs can my child play safely within the complex,' said N. Sravani, mother of a five-year-old. In Kerala, the situation is similarly concerning. Dog bite cases have surged from 1.19 lakh in 2014 to around 3.16 lakh in 2024, more than doubling over the past decade. The increase in rabies-related deaths has been just as worrying: 25 deaths in 2023, 26 in 2024, and already 16 deaths in the first five months of 2025. Significantly, some of those who died had received rabies vaccinations, suggesting that in some cases, the virus reached the nervous system too quickly, rendering the vaccine ineffective. In response, the Kerala government has plans to deploy mobile ABC units across all 152 block panchayats, aiming to better control the stray dog population. For many, the fear of stray dogs is a daily reality, which makes even simple activities like taking children for walks or playing outside a daunting task. Challenges in controlling stray dog populations The ability to manage and control the stray dog population is hindered by several significant challenges. A crucial issue is the lack of adequate infrastructure, especially in terms of animal birth control centres, and the shortage of trained veterinary professionals. Shruti Vinod Raj, honorary member of the Tamil Nadu Animal Welfare Board, said that Chennai alone needs 17 ABC centres to handle the growing number of stray dogs. At present, the city has only five, with plans for ten more. The existing centres are not enough to meet the demand, and only a fraction of the necessary sterilisation procedures are being carried out. 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