Fears about Chronic Kidney Disease allayed
Continuing dry spell and depleting groundwater table might pose issues in water supply during peak summer
DMK Corporation Councillor Khajamalai Vijay, representing ward 60, on Wednesday submitted his resignation from Tiruchi Corporation council, protesting against the lack of development works in his ward.
Mr. Vijay submitted his resignation to Mayor M. Anbazhagan at the Corporation council meeting here.
‘Demands not met’
Accusing the officials of the Corporation for failing to listen to his demands on implementation of various works, Mr. Vijay said there was no use in holding the post when he could not deliver the goods to the people.
After submitting his papers, the DMK Councillor went out of the meeting hall.
He made a bid to selfimmolate by pouring kerosene.
However, a few Councillors of the DMK, who followed him, thwarted his attempt.
‘No truth’
Reacting to the resignation, Mr. Anbazhagan told The Hindu that there was no truth in his accusations. Development works to the tune of ₹.20 crore had been implemented in ward 60 alone.
(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, TeleMANAS 14416. and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050.)
Mayor M. Anbazhagan on Wednesday said Tiruchi Corporation might resort to the system of alternate day water supply to residents if it faced constraints in drawing water from its sources in the riverbeds of the Cauvery and the Kollidam.
Responding to the queries of the councillors cutting across the party affiliations, who raised the issue of short supply of drinking water in many areas in the council meeting held here, Mr. Anbazhagan said the Corporation was supplying water to the residents twice a day. Except for some issues here and there, there were no major issues in drinking water supply.
However, the continuing dry spell and depleting ground water table might pose some issues in drinking water supply during peak summer. It might lead to the system of alternate day water supply. As a precautionary step, six bore wells had been sunk to maintain usual water supply., he added.
V. Ramadoss of the DMK, representing ward 55, said that several areas in Karumandapam had been facing water supply issue. No sufficient water supply was ensured in the ward. Despite of overhead tanks at Khajpettai and Pon. Nagar, residents could not receive sufficient water supply.
Tax collection
Pointing to the intensive property tax collection drive by the authorities in the city, P.Senthilnathan of the AMMK representing ward 47, said that there were two more weeks for paying property and water taxes, the authorities had been exerting undue pressure on the assessees to pay taxes to the civic body.
The authorities had issued warning that water supply would be disconnected to the houses if taxes were not paid immediately. The authorities could not resort to such harsh measures when the people had time to pay taxes.
DMK councillors T. Muthuselvam and Khaja
malai Vijay also opposed the harsh measures for collecting taxes. Mr. Anbazhagan said that 62% of taxes had so far been collected from the assessees. Steps have been taken to achieve 90% tax collection within March 31.
K.K. Ambikapathi of the AIADMK representing ward 65 alleged that the banned drug substances were freely available in the markets in the city. The Corporation and the authorities concerned had failed take action against those marketing and selling the drug substances.
Strongly objecting to the accusation, Mr. Anbazhagan said the members could raise only the civic issues in the council meeting. They would not be allowed to make political statements.
The other DMK councillors also raised objection to Mr. Ambikapathi. Stating that they were not allowed to raise the issues concerning the people, the AIADMK councillors staged a walkout.
At a webinar on ‘Chronic Kidney Disease Learn, Act, Thrive’ held on Wednesday, a panel of nephrology consultants of the Kauvery Hospital dispelled myths and fears surrounding CKD, and shared inputs on the treatment procedure for a person diagnosed with kidney disease.
The doctors took part in the webinar presented by Kauvery Hospital in collaboration with The Hindu as part of its wellness series on World Kidney Day.
“Do not wait for symptoms to take over the body and create complications, said one of the consultants, T. Rajarajan of Tiruchi. Even trivial symptoms warrant a visit to the doctor; diet and drug compliance as prescribed is important. He spoke on haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
CKD requires lifelong treatment, said K. Abirami of Salem, calling for the monitoring of blood sugar and blood pressure levels two potential causes of CKD besides other risk factors, including family history, obesity, and smoking.
If CKD progresses towards end stage renal disease, then kidney transplant helps improve the overall health of the patient, said Prabhu Kanchi of Chennai, who recommended test for all persons aged 35 and above.