VASCO: Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho said on Tuesday that special team from Animal Husbandry and an NGO are working to curb stray dog menace at the airport runway.
Mauvin was addressing a meeting of top government officials on curbing the stray dog menace at the Dabolim Airport.
In a special report last Saturday, Herald had highlighted numerous lapses by the authorities led to increase in stray dog menace in the vicinity of the airport. Taking cognizance of the report, a special meeting was convened on Tuesday morning by Mauvin, who also holds the Animal Husbandry portfolio, to find a solution to the menace.
Addressing the reporters after the meeting, Mauvin said, “As far as dog menace is concerned, we have already taken cognizance of this issue. During my previous visit, I promised to appoint a special team from the Animal husbandry department. Accordingly, a team has been appointed to observe and study about the dog menace. An NGO is also entrusted to study about the increasing number of the stray dogs and look into the matter at the airport area so that no dog runs on the runway.”
He informed that Rs 7 lakh is allocated for tackling the stray dog menace, and if needed, more funds would be allocated.
Godinho also said that the Indian Navy is also in the process of curbing the dog menace at the runway area. “The NGO will take the stray dogs and keep them at other safe places, so that the danger of stray dogs running on the airport runway and the aborting of flight landing etc will not take place,” he said.
Last week, a flight aborted landing at the last minute due to the presence of six stray dogs on the runway, raising a big question about the security and safety of the passengers and flights at Dabolim airport.
