Srinagar: Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation Thursday assured that the problems created by the increased population of stray dogs will be tackled soon.
Responding to a report in ‘Kashmir Images’ (May 04 edition) about the increased incidence of dog bites, SMC Commissioner, Athar Amir Khan said the administration is aware of the problem and that the issue will be addressed soon.
Khan said that a sophisticated dog sterilization center has been established at Tengpora Bypass in Srinagar, wherein 210 dogs could be sterilized at a time. Another, he said, is located in the Shuhama area on the city outskirts.
He also informed that SMC has forwarded the proposal to National Animal Welfare Board (NAWB) for approval. He said the sterilization of stray packs will be followed on a war footing once the proposal is approved by the Board.
He said that sterilization is the only measure that can be taken to reduce the canine population in Srinagar and elsewhere.
“We are aware of the problem and today itself I had a meeting in this regard at the Civil Secretariat. We have established a dog sterilization center at Tengpora Bypass. Sterilization is the only way to reduce the canine population. We assure that action will be taken in this regard,” Commissioner SMC told ‘Kashmir Images’.
It is worth mentioning that a minor girl from the Mitragam area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district was admitted to Children’s Hospital Bemina with critical dog bite injuries on Sunday, where she is still battling for life.
An elderly woman died while five others suffered injuries after a pack of stray dogs attacked them in the Munawarabad locality in Srinagar on the 27th of last month.
Pertinently, a middle-aged man was arrested after he tied a stray dog to his two-wheeler with a rope and dragged him down the Fore-Shore Road last month. He was charged under section 429 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
