Minister for Handlooms, Textiles and Khadi M. Vijay Balaji inspecting the bridge improvement works at the starting point of the Otteri Nullah Canal in Thendral Colony on Wednesday (October 14, 2026). | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Handloom and Textiles Minister M. Vijay Balaji on Wednesday inspected Northeast monsoon preparedness works in Ambattur, Anna Nagar and Teynampet zones of Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), and inaugurated an animal birth control (ABC) centre and pet hospital in Athipattu.
Built at a cost of ₹2.30 crore at the Athipattu solid waste complex, the ABC centre spans over 5,300 sq. ft. The facility has space to perform sterilisation surgeries on 35 street dogs a day. It includes an operation theatre, laboratory, pharmacy, treatment room and kennels.
Street dogs caught in Ambattur and Anna Nagar zones will undergo sterilisation and administered anti-rabies vaccination here. This is the 14th dog sterilisation centre in the city.
The Minister inspected stormwater drain works on Cookson Road, being executed by the Water Resources Department at a cost of ₹130 crore over 5.10 km. He also reviewed drain works on the Chennai–Tiruvallur High Road in Padi, funded by the Asian Development Bank at ₹44 crore.
In Anna Nagar, he inspected work to raise a 500-metre stretch of the Otteri Nullah canal’s retaining wall at Thirumangalam, part of a ₹66.27-crore project covering 10.81 km.
In Teynampet, he reviewed silt removal at the Virugambakkam and Trustpuram canals’ confluence with the Cooum river, and desilting work on Kulakkarai Road. He asked officials to expedite the works and remove the accumulated silt promptly.
Published - October 14, 2026 10:15 pm IST