The New Indian Express ·
Thiruvananthapuram Corporation's ABC hospital plan drags on; DPR to be revised to meet 2023 rules
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Five years after its announcement, the proposed multi-specialty veterinary hospital and Animal Birth Control (ABC) centre, initiated by the city corporation to manage the stray dog population, remains only on paper. The civic body announced plans for this first-of-its-kind facility in 2021. Despite a growing stray dog crisis and mounting complaints, the corporation is struggling to strengthen its ABC programme - the primary method for controlling the stray dog population.
The plan to revise the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Thiruvallam facility by incorporating features from a similar Chennai model continues to drag on.
“We need to revise the DPR in accordance with the ABC Rules, 2023. The original proposal was based on the 2001 rules, which are no longer applicable. The Greater Chennai corporation’s model is ideal; they established six ABC hospitals in a short period, while we are struggling to set up one. We have requested permission to visit the Chennai facilities,” said a corporation official.