Smog chokes Chennai

Chennai: Smog scare: While monsoon brings in ailments like fever, cough and Madras Eye to those with low immunity, the seasonal rain along with poor civic infrastructure also leaves Chennaiites dazed and irritated. Motorists and two-wheelers are finding the ride terrible on pothole-ridden stretches and roads minus asphalt layer. But what makes matters worse is blue metal wearing off on poorly laid roads kicking up a dust storm.

Smog, combination of air pollutants and fog, seems to have taken control of several roads. Smog levels are going up to such an extent that visibility levels have come down at night. Dr V. Chandrasekhar, director, Sheeba Nursing Home in Jawahar Nagar, near Perambur, says, “Smog is likely to cause problems like difficulty in breathing, asthma, reduced resistance to lung infections and colds, and eye irritation. The dust from cement roads is also not good.”

Music and mobile phone: It was surprising to watch rasikas so engrossed in a music concert at Narada Gana Sabha last Sunday that cellphones stopped ringing for almost two hours. Probably, many of them had put the phone on silent mode to enjoy the sound of music. This welcome relief triggered a volley of thoughts on music and technology. Musicians have begun using the social networking sites to spread word about their concerts and love to read responses of rasikas online.

Vocalist Maharajapuram S. Ganesh Viswanathan says cellphones ringing in concert halls can be disconcerting to artistes on stage. But there is flip side to it also. “A doctor who had come to my concert left the hall a little early. When asked about it, he said he got an emergency case and so had to leave the concert halfway,” says Ganesh. Perhaps, it is discretion that people have to exercise in using cellphones in public places.