BMC to set up its first veterinary hospital
The hospital would be run by Sir Dorabji Tata Trust.
Mumbai: First veterinary hospital of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will be run by Sir Dorabji Tata Trust. The civic body will enter into an agreement with the trust to run the hospital with a capacity to accommodate 300 animals, on build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis.
The BMC has decided to build the hospital on a 3045.40 sq metres plot located behind Arthur Road jail at Mahalaxmi. The civic body had invited expression of interest (EoI) from various animal organisations to run the hospital. Out of four bidders, the BMC has selected Tata Trust for the task.
A 30 year agreement will be made with the Tata Trust to operate the hospital, which would provide free-of-cost treatment to injured, sick and stray animals. The civic body will also provide treatment and other activities like sterilisation and vaccination of animals at cheaper rates at this hospital.
The hospital will have 25 various departments like OPD, inter-patient, surgery, gynaecology, accident and ICU, cancer, skin diseases, crematorium, CT-scan, MRI, radiology, sonography, dialysis centre, blood bank etc.
According to the veterinary council of India 1984 act, all animals related activities should be handled by the veterin-ary doctors. Accordingly, on the lines of its public health department, the BMC has formed a separate veterinary department. Veterinary activities related to cattle pond, dog control, treatment etc have also been brought under a single body – the veterinary department, for which seven doctors will be hired. Under the ambit of this department, the BMC has planned to set up a veterinary hospital to curb the spread of zoonotic diseases in the city.
“The civic body is also planning to set up three pet clinics – one each in the city, eastern and western suburbs. Along with veterinary hospital at Mahalaxmi, the municipal pet clinic at Khar will also be upgraded. The clinic in eastern suburbs will be at Deonar,” said a senior civic official.
In Mumbai, there is Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit Hospital in Parel, run by a charitable trust, which treats the animals in the city. Though there are few private pet clinics, they are unaffordable.