Veterinary hospital construction in final stage

By Hari Koirala,Urlabari, Mar.30: The construction of an eight-room well-equipped veterinary hospital is in the final stage at Pipalchowk in Ward No. 3 of Pathari-Shanishchare Municipality of Morang district.

While the physical progress of the building has reached 85 per cent, officials informed that the hospital will come into operation from the month of May.

The hospital is being constructed with the financial support of Rs. 18 million by Nepal Livestock Innovation Project while the land was donated by local Tara Koirala. It will have an advanced lab and will provide services by seven qualified manpower.

"Many people in the municipality and neighbouring local levels are involved in livestock farming. There is a lack of proper infrastructure and resources to treat sick cattle. The hospital will provide a great relief to the farmers," said Dr. Sabal Pokhrel, the municipality's veterinary doctor.

A bio pit is also being constructed on the hospital premise to dispose dead animals safely. 

"We have a team of veterinary experts. However, we lacked proper infrastructure. After the hospital is constructed, it will provide necessary support and services to the farmers," said Mohan Tumbapo, mayor of Pathari-Shanishchare Municipality.

Meanwhile, farmers have expected that the local government will not allow the veterinary hospital remain unused after completing the construction.

This suspicion is a result of the inability to bring the advanced slaughterhouse, which was built two years ago, into operation.

The slaughterhouse was constructed in Ward No. 1's Gosline under the Slaughterhouse Reform Programme of the Koshi Province Livestock Directorate. While the provincial government provided Rs. 5 million, the municipality in coordination with neighbouring local levels had provided Rs. 2.5 million.

Despite a collection of Rs. 7.5 million, the slaughterhouse was constructed at less than Rs. 5.1 million by the contractor. However, the municipality maintains that it lacks enough money to buy necessary equipment.

"It will soon be two years that the slaughterhouse was constructed. It has not come into operation due to lack of necessary equipment," said Laxmi Prasad Kharel, chief administrative officer of the municipality.

The windows of the slaughterhouse have started to break and crack and the shutters have started to rust as the building has remained unused for two years.

According to Ward No. 1 chairman Bhim Kumar Rai, the slaughterhouse was expected to have several facilities such as checkup of animals to be slaughtered and processing and storing of meat.

"However, we still need around Rs. 1 million to buy the equipment to provide such facilities. If all the resources are available, five large animals, such as pig and buffalo, and a dozen small animals, such as goat, can be slaughtered daily," said Rai.

Local businesses informed that around six buffalos and pigs and a dozen goats are consumed in the main bazaar of Pathari-Shanishchare.

Meanwhile, Kharel said that the provincial government had not provided additional budget for equipment procurement till date.

"The municipality could not provide the necessary budget ourselves because we lack enough funds," said Kharel.