NT Reporter
Panaji
Goa is likely to get its first animal incinerator in Taleigao, Panaji, soon, said a senior official from the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services. The official said land has been assured for the project, which is urgently needed to ensure safe disposal of dead animals in the state.
The incinerator is likely to be set up near the garbage segregation point in Taleigao. “The proposal is still in its early stage, but it is a relief that authorities are finally considering it seriously. This is a real and ongoing problem in Goa,” the official said.
At present, the state faces major challenges in disposing of dead dogs, especially those requiring post-mortem testing for rabies. “A small animal incinerator has been a long-time dream and a public concern for the state,” the official said. Efforts to install an incinerator in Panaji have been ongoing for more than eight years.
Director of Mission Rabies Murugan Appupillai said discussions with the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) led the Animal Husbandry Department to recommend that both North Goa and South Goa should have one incinerator each.
The estimated cost of setting up an incinerator with a 100 kg capacity is about Rs 25 lakh. Such a unit can incinerate around five or more dogs per batch, depending on size. Currently, the only method available is open burning in Assagao, which raises environmental concerns and requires permission from the Pollution Control Board.
