Worldwide Veterinary Services (WVS) Director Dr Karlette Fernandes at a power point presentation in the Margao Municipal hall on Monday. Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO: Hazard a guess on number of stray dogs in the State’s commercial capital? A whopping 6,000 is a rough figure put up by an NGO --, Worldwide Veterinary Services (WVS).
And, guess how many city fathers made their presence felt at the power-point presentation arranged by WVS Director Dr Karlette Fernandes at the Margao Municipal Council on Monday evening? Hardly 10-11 out of the 25 councillors turned up, throwing up questions over the seriousness of the city fathers in addressing the burning issue.
Chairperson Lyndon Pereira and his deputy Deepali Sawal attended the presentation, though the civic chief was shuttling between the hall and his chamber all throughout the presentation. Councilors who made it to the municipal hall for the presentation include former Chairperson Ganashyam Shirodkar, Varak (Dada) Naik, Vitorino Tavares, Johnny Crasto, Camilo Barretto, Milagrina Gomes, Mahesh Amonkar, Ravindra (Raju) Naik, Lata Pednekar.
At one time, councillors found the chairperson conspicuous by his absence, prompting councillor Mahesh to go out and get the chairperson to the hall. No sooner, the chairperson returned back, he thanked the WVS Director for the presentation, leaving former chairperson Ganashyam Shirodkar wondering if the civic chief was in a hurry.
When the media questioned the civic chairperson over the absence of majority of the councillors at the power point presentation, he said messages were dispatched to all the 25 councillors requesting them to attend the power point presentation.
Meanwhile, in her power-point presentation, Dr Karlette explained to the city fathers that the civic body should avail the government-funded Goa Small Animal Rescue Management Scheme 2014 to handle the stray dog issue. “Many of the civic and panchayat bodies have availed the government scheme, wherein the civic body has to only provide land for setting up the cages to carry out sterilization and vans for dog catching vans, which are again funded under the scheme”, he said.
Since the MMC is facing land issue, former chairperson Ganashyam Shirodkar suggested chairperson Lyndon that the civic body should approach the district collector to get the Sonsodo Veterinary hospital quarters for the MMC Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme.
The chairperson said the WVS suggestion will be placed before the Margao municipal meeting scheduled later this week.
