MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE CORE GROUP CONSTITUTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE EQUINE INFLUENZA HELD AT 6.00 P.M. ON MONDAY, 22ND DECEMBER 2008 IN THE PARTY ROOM, ABOVE THE WEIGHING ROOM, RACE COURSE, MUMBAI:
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Present:-
Mr Geoffrey Nagpal - Representative of WIRHOA Ltd
Mr Shivlal Daga - Chairman, Co-ordination Committee, TAI
Mr Mohan Thakur - Representative of RWITC Ltd
Mr Shiven Surendranath - Representative of WIRHOA Ltd
Mr Khushroo N Dhunjibhoy - Owner
Mr N H S Mani - Deputy Secretary, RWITC Ltd
Dr D Swaminathan - Senior Veterinary Officer, RWITC Ltd
Mr Pesi Shroff - Representative of WITA Ltd
Dr Anil Kumar - Representative of WITA Ltd
Having been duly proposed and seconded Mr Geoffrey Nagpal took the Chair for the meeting.
Notification dated 15th December 2008 issued by the Deputy Secretary to Government, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Department, was tabled, read and considered.
It was noted that the abovementioned notification prohibits holding of races, transportation and movement of horses within the state, outside the state and also within the district for two months with effect from 15th December 2008.
A discussion took place at which time it was felt that advent of such a notification, at a stage when all the horses have recovered from the Equine Influenza and majority of horses started working, was not in the fitness of things and therefore it would be necessary to make a representation to the Government requesting them to reconsider this ban, in view of the foregoing facts. It was decided that the WITA Ltd and WIRHOA Ltd should make a representation requesting Government to relax the notification wherein atleast the horses could be shifted from Pune to Mumbai and the Mumbai Racing Season 2008-09 could commence from 1st February 2008.
During further discussion, it was noted that there were few respiratory cases in Pune. Dr Swaminathan suggested that Endoscopy, Stomach tubing and any other procedures involving the respiratory tract should be prohibited in order eliminate the possibility of such diseases spreading to other horses. Accordingly, he was asked to issue a notice to all Trainers and Private Veterinarians. Dr Swaminathan was also asked to incorporate in the notice that the Trainers and Private Veterinarians should inform Dr Swaminathan immediately if they come across any symptoms of any infectious diseases for further control measures. In the event of any of the trainers and/or private veterinarians not coming forward and informing the Senior Veterinary Officer of such diseases, the Core Group would recommend severe disciplinary action against such trainers and/or private veterinarians including delicensing them. Dr Swaminathan was asked to undertake random sampling to check such disease.
A discussion took place at which time it was noted that the cleanliness in Pune stables was not upto the mark and there were a lot of complaints from trainers about nails being found in the working track. The Deputy Secretary was asked to instruct the Estate Officer to ensure proper cleanliness of the stable area as also to ensure that the nails were removed from the track.
During further discussion, it was felt that separate quarantine facilities be made available in the vicinity of Pune so that in the event of horses need to be quarantined, especially in view of outbreak of any disease, these quarantine stables could be used. It was decided to recommend to the Committee of the Club to consider this issue.
Letters dated 4th and 15th December 2008 from WITA Ltd was considered and it was decided to request the Committee of the Club to provide infrastructure facilities such as stables, track, etc. at the Pune Race Course till end of February 2009 by then all the horses will have shifted to Mumbai, subject to relaxation on the current notification of the Government of Maharashtra.
There being no other points, the meeting terminated.
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