Delay in payments affects animal birth control program in Margao
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, JULY 23
Delayed payments by the Margao Municipal Council and space constraints at the dog shelter has hit Animal Birth Control (ABC) program in the Commercial Capital.
If the coordinator of South Goa Welfare Trust for Animals Sandra Fernandes is to be believed, the dog shelter can tackle the stray dog nuisance if basic facilities and payments are made on time.
Fernandes further said the monthly payment of Rs 11,000 to the NGO by the Civic body has been found inadequate to meet the requirements. That’s not all. She said the Civic body has not been making the payments on time, saying that payments for the month of June has not been made till date.
She, however, solicited public support for the ABC project and said the dog shelter can seen a turn around with little assistance from the government and public support. “we can even perform 30 operations if the shelter is further extended. The government should also depute a doctor to carry out the operations”, he added.
Saying that the MMC has defaulted payment of the Rs 11000 pertaining to the month of June, Fernandes said “We cannot run the shelter without the payments. The cheque should come atleast by the fifth of every month. There are a lot of things we have to procure, including medicines with this money”, she added.
On sterilizing 100 dogs a month, Fernandes said it is not possible to sterilize 100 dogs with Rs 11,000 and space constraints.
MMC Chairperson Savio Coutinho has complimented the NGO for carrying out the Animal Birth Control Program despite odds.
Admitting that the Civic body has not been prompt in making the payments on time, Coutinho said the effect of the ongoing work will be felt in the future.
Incidentally, Coutinho handed over the cheque to the NGO today at the dog shelter, Sonsodo and promised to make timely payments in the future.
