The New Indian Express 31.08.2010
City Corporation moots yet another project
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: While there is no reprieve in sight for citizens from the stray dog menace, the City Corporation seems to believe in miracles. Yet another project to manage the population of stray dogs was approved by the Corporation Council on Monday to be submitted to the District Planning Committee (DPC).The Rs 15-lakh project has been envisaged to extend the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme to more veterinary hospitals, so that the project finds its objective. As of now, only two hospitals in the city, Pettah and PMG vet hospitals, have the facility to implement the ABC programme. ‘’This needs to be facilitated in other hospitals also for the ward-wise managing of stray dogs to become possible, which is why the new project has been launched,’’ officials said.
But the mention of stray dogs led to a pandemonium in the Council, with the Opposition asking what was being done in the ABC programme that needed such regular funding. ‘’Already, lakhs have been spent on curbing the menace, but the common people have found no solace,’’ Opposition leader Maheswaran Nair said.
Amidst shouting queries from the Opposition as to how the menace would be tackled, the ruling front passed the buck on to the State Government, saying that they have asked the big bosses to intervene. ‘’We have conveyed the problem to the Government and asked for help to solve the issue,’’ Mayor C Jayan Babu said.
With the code of conduct all set to be in effect anytime from mid-September, many matters were discussed in the Council and passed, without they being in the agenda. Kuriathi Sasi, from the Opposition, opposed the passing of six matters by the Welfare Standing Committee, saying that it was a wrong precedence to be set. However, most of the Standing Committee Chairmen stuck to the sentence that, ‘’they are important, as they have to be sent to the DPC for approval.’’
The Works Standing Committee also approved funds for the road works which the Opposition said have been stalled at many places for months now.
The five officers who were deputed for six months for supervising the road works when new wards are created have been given an extension of six months, the Deputy Mayor said.
The Council also congratulated the selfless work of Cleanwell unit members and Corporation employees in making the city clean after the Onam week procession on Saturday. Though it was a Sunday, employees came on duty by 5 am and the city looked clean by 7 am, the Mayor said. A special felicitation was offered to the employees at a function held at the Council lounge after the meeting.
