KOZHIKODE: Cost escalation and lethargy in ensuring sufficient manpower may hit the timely opening of the Animal Birth Control project station which is under construction at Poolakkadavu in the city. The cost of the building construction went up from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 80 lakh and the total cost would go up to Rs 1.3 crore including surgical equipment, post-surgical care unit and kennels. Once the building is completed, the availability of permanent staff would be the major impediment the civic body will have to overcome.
It is to be recalled that there was a demand from various quarters to control the population of stray dogs through sterilization, as the number of dog bite cases had registered an alarming increase. More than 1000 dog bite cases were registered in the last three months in the district. A total of 15,598 persons were bitten by strays in the last two years (2015-2016) including 6860 cases in 2016. Corporation standing committee chairperson K.V. Baburaj told DC that hectic behind the curtain moves were on to source funds as well as manpower for the project. “Once the construction of the building is completed, the other procedures would gather momentum”, he added.
The escalating cost of the project is an element of worry for many. The building itself would cost more than Rs 80 lakh. Corporation standing committee (development) chairperson PC Rajan told DC that the cost of machinery, surgical instruments and other facilities would add to the escalation. Another problem was the lack of skilled personnel in dog catching and other technical staff, he said, adding that the corporation had already approached the state government for creating posts for adequate staff in the ABC station.
