Collector orders mapping of campuses, transport hubs, sports grounds
MARGAO
In a major exercise initiative by the South Goa district authorities in the wake of the Supreme Court directives on stray dogs, deputy collectors in the district have been told to prepare an inventory of all government/ private educational institutions, hospitals, public sports complexes, bus stands/ depots and railway station on a war footing.
The administrative heads of these institutions have also been told to ensure to secure their premises against stray dogs through fencing, gates, and other measures.
These measures were decided upon at a high-level meeting convened by South Goa District Collector, Egna Cleetus, IAS in view of the Supreme Court directions mandating the authorities to bar stray dogs from public spaces such as educational institutions, bus stands and railway stations, besides sports grounds.
The district Collector has also called for a report on fencing carried out by the institutions, whether it is permanent or partial. All the government/ private educational institutions, hospitals, public sports complexes have been told to submit their reports.
As far as railway stations and bus stands are concerned, the authorities are required to include a report on waste disposal arrangement.
In this respect, the Deputy Collector and SDM have been told to convene a meeting with all mamlatdars, chief officers, BDO’s, Assistant Director of Education to collect reports within one week’s time. It has been made clear that the information provided by the officers should correspondent with the data compiled by Assistant Director of Education. Action in this respect is required to be initiated by the Director of Municipal Administration, Chief Officer of Municipal Councils, Director of Education: school, higher & technical, director of Health Services, director of Sports, director of Transport, Deputy Collector and SDMs.
Besides, directions have been issued to implement waste management, and conduct inspections to prevent the presence of stray dogs. The authorities have been told to conduct periodic inspection/ meetings to review fencing before submitting compliance report.
The deputy collectors have also been told to address stray dog issues related to the airport. It has been decided that garbage dumping at railway station shall be managed in coordination with the local panchayats and the Municipality.
The task of scheduling the sterilisation of stray dogs has been entrusted to the Animal Husbandry Department.
A senior official informed that as a first step to achieve the objective, concerned departments have been told to identify government/ private educational institutions, hospitals, public sports complexes, bus stands/ depots, and railway stations within territorial limits, through local/ municipal authorities, under District Magistrate supervision.
