A peripheral veterinary hospital at a cost of Rs. 58.5 lakh will come up in Koduvalli near Red Hills here by the end of this year.
Giving details to The Hindu, R. Prabakaran, Vice-Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS), said the new facility would cater to the needs of 30,000 heads of cattle and an equal number of goats and sheep. Work on the construction of hospital buildings began in April this year and it was expected to be completed by this year end, he said.
A separate out-patient ward and operation theatres for small and large animals and an observation room would form part of the building. Dr. Prabakaran said veterinary hospitals were already functioning in every district. But, this particular hospital would provide specialised care. At present if cattle from this area needed an ophthalmic surgery, the owner had to take it to the Veterinary College, Vepery. The facility for surgery would now be created at Koduvalli so that cattle owners need not transport their cattle.
T. Sivakumar, Dean, Faculty of Food Sciences, College of Food and Dairy Technology, Koduvalli, said the hospital would be constructed on a total area of 6,100 sq.ft. The operation theatre would be a boon for cattle owners. Specialists from the Veterinary College, Vepery, could be invited to perform surgeries, he said. The facility would be created by TANUVAS mainly to cater to the needs of nearly 30 villages in and around Koduvalli. Already, three veterinary dispensaries were functioning in Tiruvallur district. But, this hospital would have larger facilities than the veterinary dispensaries, Dr. Sivakumar added.