Navi Mumbai: After activists criticised the delay of the recent launch of the veterinary hospital by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) in Juinagar, and animal and bird lovers called the situation a glaring failure of urban planning and civic sensitivity, NMMC said a formal inauguration would be done in the next couple of weeks with overall facilities by month’s end.Activists also urged the state govt to permit a rescue centre in the Kharghar forest area so that treatment could begin within 30 minutes to an hour, which they said was a crucial window that could significantly improve survival chances for rescued animals and birds.The veterinary facility opened quietly on Wednesday, with limited facilities. Activists said the NMMC, under pressure, appointed three doctors and four staff members to commission the facility, but it had fewer amenities for a full-fledged operation. Although the building was ready in 2021, it remained unused for five years, and the OPD was kicked off with no fanfare, which many said did not solve the larger issue of catering to the number of patients. The delay in operations forced rescuers to depend on private veterinarians or transport injured animals to distant centres. “It is a matter of grave concern that Navi Mumbai has failed to provide this basic facility even after nearly six decades of its existence,” the NatConnect Foundation said in its complaint to CM Fadnavis. Navi Mumbai and Panvel frequently witnessed rescue cases involving flamingos, birds of prey, snakes and small mammals, particularly during migratory, summer and monsoon seasons, but the city had no dedicated rescue centre where injured creatures could receive immediate treatment, NatConnect director B N Kumar said.
