A few months after a stray dog turned blue because of chemicals released by an industrial unit in Taloja, the Taloja MIDC the Taloja Industries Association (TIA) has decided to start a hospital for stray animals.
The industries will also work to undertake environment-friendly initiatives and development programmes in the neighbouring villages.
TIA president Satish Shetty said, “It was an unfortunate incident when the stray dog turned blue. The industrial unit was criticised, and many even demanded that it be shifted. However, this is not practical. Thus, we have proposed an initiative called Shelter For Strays, and have even identified the location for the facility.”
In August, after a picture of the blue dog went viral on social media, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) had taken action against the firm that released untreated chemicals into the river. Activists had urged the MPCB to act against polluting industrial units, saying that the effluents posed a danger tohumans too.
Mr. Shetty said the animal hospital will be a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of the association, and will be developed by Myvets Charitable Trust & Research Centre. Funds of ₹80 lakh have been sanctioned for its development, Mr. Shetty said.
Madhurita Gupta, co-founder and president of Myvets, said the animal hospital, spread over 15,000 sq. ft., will have state-of-the-art facilities to treat animals and birds. It will have skilled veterinary surgeons assisted by knowledgeable and trained staff.
Mobile-based app
Yuvraj Kaginkar, co-founder of the Trust, said, “We have planned identification of the animals through a smart system, i.e. by implanting microchips, branding and tagging as per the animal husbandry guidelines. We are also developing a cell phone-based application called MIDC Taloja for people to report injured animals.”
Dr. Kaginkar said the app will also include features related to safety of the industrial area.
The app will be a database for the MIDC, with information about strays, rehabilitators, emergency veterinarians, animal hospitals, forest and fire departments, and the police. It will allow users to report any untoward incidents on the MIDC premises to the authorities.
Eco-friendly initiatives
The TIA will also carry out a no-plastic programme in the eight villages of Taloja MIDC, by training the villagers to make eco-friendly organic paper bags. These paper bags will then be sold at a subsidised rate to retailers to discourage the use of plastic in the MIDC and nearby areas, Mr. Shetty said.
The association will also organise a livestock development programme, and an integrated programme including. poultry and dairy farming, and vermiculture training.
The organisation will also create awareness about women’s health through community development programmes.
TIA will also carry out a study of the local biodiversity to restore habitats of the loast flora and fauna, with guidance of the Myvets team, said Mr. Shetty.
