Date:03/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/03/stories/2008120353000300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Revenue panel to take care of animals at SPCA centre

Staff Reporter

Kakinada RDO decides to get a permanent shelter for hapless animals and initiate steps to save them from hardship

Kakinada: As a follow-up to the abolition of Society for Prevention for Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)’s core committee, its ex-officio vice-president and Kakinada RDO G.C. Kishore Kumar on Tuesday constituted a revenue committee to take care of the animals, most of them cattle, currently lodged at the SPCA care centre.

He decided to get a permanent shelter constructed for the hapless animals and take other measures necessary to save the animals from further hardship.

Emergency assistance

Speaking to media persons here on Tuesday, Mr. Kishore Kumar said the Animal Welfare Board of India was asked to extend emergency financial assistance and the district administration was also prepared to mobilise funds for the purpose so that the animals could be looked after well hereafter.

The revenue committee comprises officials of Revenue Department and staff of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Departments, who would meet the daily needs of the animals which were starved for a long time.

Three buffaloes and cows that were about to die were sent to the Animal Husbandry Department’s polyclinic on Tuesday morning. All such maimed and ill animals would be taken care of on priority basis.

Meanwhile, the ground is being prepared to initiate criminal proceedings against all those responsible for the pitiable plight of the cattle most of which were being smuggled to abattoirs.

Secretary SSRK Guru Prasad, treasurer K.G. Lunani and others, who merely pretended to be doing what they were supposed to, would be taken to task, for which the Collector has issued necessary instructions, the RDO added.