MARGAO
The South Goa district authorities have finally decided to prepare an action plan to deal with the stray dog menace.
At a meeting chaired by Additional Collector-II, South, Ramesh Gaonkar, several directions were issued to local bodies, including Municipalities and Panchayats, on how to address the issue.
Chief Officers of Municipal Councils and Block Development Officers (BDOs) have been asked to submit data on areas vulnerable to stray dog attacks by September 29. They were also told to submit a feeder list to the Executive Secretary of the District Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA).
As the dog population shows no signs of decline, authorities decided to launch sterilisation and vaccination drives. Municipalities and BDOs have been directed to provide manpower support, while the DSPCA Member Secretary and Executive Secretary, along with the DRDA Project Director, will inspect sites identified for sterilisation.
BDOs have also been tasked with holding meetings with Panchayat bodies to improve waste management. Since funds will be needed to carry out the plan, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services will be involved in arranging finances.
The meeting, called by the Additional Collector, gains importance as the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme in several Municipalities and Panchayats has become defunct. For example, in Margao, the Municipal Council had signed an agreement with a city-based Animal Welfare group to implement the ABC programme. However, the initiative never took off due to lack of cooperation and delays in releasing funds by the Council. The NGO has complained that the delays have left the programme defunct.
