Goa to procure animal ambulances, govt tells high court

Panaji: The state is in the process of procuring animal ambulances, it told the Bombay high court on Wednesday.

During a hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking directions to the state to set up a 24/7 animal ambulances, advocate general Devidas Pangam said that the state issued a tender to procure the animal ambulances and that a stipulated time period was given to submit tender documents.

Unfortunately, nobody filed their documents, he said, adding that govt extended the time and is in the process of procuring the ambulances.

The PIL, filed by Indresh Advani, who said he is a spirited animal activist, seeks the setting up of infirmaries for aged, infirm and disabled street animals, as well as animal incinerators in each taluka in the state.

He stated that street animals such as cattle, dogs and cats are often denied round the clock locational care in case of accidents, leaving injured animals in extreme pain until they are rescued, as most NGOs do not have vets or catching teams stationed to provide emergency relief.

In cases of death, these animals are left in shallow graves, posing a health hazard, he said.

Advani stated that under the Establishment and Regulation of SPCA Rules, 2001, of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, there is a mandate to set up state infirmaries/sanctuaries to shelter aged, infirm and disabled street animals.

He pointed to a failure on the part of Goa govt, through its departments, to implement the SPCA Rules, 2001, particularly Rule 4, which says that every state govt shall provide adequate land and other facilities to society for constructing infirmaries and animal shelters.

He also mentioned govt’s failure to implement specific directions under the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, for setting up animal incinerators in the state.