Padmavati Prabhu
Panaji
To curb dog menace on the beaches of South Goa, the Tourism Department has asked panchayats in Mormugao and Salcete to identify designated areas on beaches as feeding areas for dogs. The department said that feeding of dogs other than these areas should be discouraged.
In the first quarter of this year, nearly 15 incidents of dog bites were reported at South Goa beaches, mainly Benaulim and Colva.
“As an interim measure, we have asked the panchayats in Mormugao and Salcete to identify designated spaces on the beaches for feeding of dogs which need to be secured properly,” said a tourism official, adding that signboards with do’s and don’ts have to be also erected on all beaches.
The department had recently called a meeting of the coastal panchayats in Salcete and Mormugao to discuss possible solutions to the rising cases of stray dog menace on the beaches of South Goa.
“There is also a need to take up sterlisation campaign periodically,” the official said, informing that discussion was also held on making registration of dogs mandatory with neck belts with owner details provided.
“During the meeting, panchayats suggested that a land parcel of around two acres should be identified by the government in the hinterlands, away from beaches and residential areas in all three districts for setting up of dog shelters and the same should not be caged but open areas,” the official said.
