New veterinary hospital in Bicholim to be fast tracked

MAPUSA

In a significant announcement during the Goa Legislative Assembly session, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant declared that the construction of a new veterinary hospital in Mulgao, Bicholim, will be expedited, with completion targeted by 2027.

This move comes in response to growing concerns about the delay in the project, initially proposed by the late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.

Chief Minister Sawant assured the Assembly, "We will initiate the construction of the new veterinary hospital very soon and complete it by 2027," emphasizing that the project will commence using funds from the Public Works Department (PWD) for buildings.

The assurance came after Bicholim MLA Chandrakant Shetye expressed his dissatisfaction over the prolonged delay. Shetye highlighted the pressing need for the hospital, noting that the state currently has five veterinary hospitals located in Panaji, Mapusa, Honda-Sattari, Margao, and Navelim.

He pointed out the significant gap in services between Mapusa and Honda, stressing the importance of the Mulgao location.

Shetye recounted that in 2020, the then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had acquired land from the Water Resources Department (WRD) and laid the foundation stone for the hospital.

"I have been following up on this issue and raised it in the assembly on several occasions. If the government is not interested in constructing the hospital, it is better we revert the land back which can be used for other works," he stated.

Minister for Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services, Nilkant Halarnkar, provided further details, informing the Assembly that 17,280 square metres of land had been acquired for the hospital's construction and that the mutation work was currently in progress.

Despite the acquisition, the project has yet to be tendered.

Halarnkar explained that the project was initially supposed to be funded through a centrally approved scheme.

"The government had accorded administrative approval for the construction of a new veterinary hospital at Mulgao, with an estimated cost of Rs 9.41 crore. The expenditure was proposed from funds under a centrally sponsored scheme," he said.

However, the implementation of the General Schedule of Rates (GSR) 2023 necessitated a recast of the estimate. Halarnkar added, "The revised estimate will be submitted for administrative approval.”