Taking serious note of frequent incidents of stray dogs attacking on people especially children, the special chief secretary to government Arvind Kumar today called a high level meeting with senior GHMC officials in his chamber at MA&UD office and asked them to prepare an action plan on war footing to prevent the dog menace in GHMC limits as well as in surrounding municipalities.
During the meeting, the GHMC officials apprised the chief secretary about the present number of stray dogs that exist in the GHMC limits. The officials said that out of a total 8.5 lakh stray dogs registered during the year 2011, there are only 5.5 lakh remaining existing in the city limits. The fall-off in the number of dogs achieved through sterilization operations conducted during the last several years. However, the special chief secretary instructed the official to roll out the Animal Birth Control (ABC) sterilization operations again with immediate effect and ensure there would be sufficient water storage points in colonies and localities.
Apart from this, he said, hotels, restaurants, function halls, chicken and mutton centers within the city limits should be restricted from dumping waste on the streets. “The violent incidents of stray dogs attacking people may have been a result of the mating season given the climate change and such incidents should have been prevented with immediate measures,” the special chief secretary observed. Apart from this, he said, there is a need to bring proper awareness among the students about the behaviour of pet animals and how to deal with them in certain situations.
The special chief secretary urged the officials to rope-in slum development federations and town development federations besides residential welfare associations in colonies in the city and neighbouring municipalities to bring awareness about the preventive measures among the students. “Measures should also be taken to receive complaints on My GHMC App vide Toll Free No.040-21111111 to address the grievances regarding presence of stray dogs and their violent behaviour in different areas,” he added.
Arvind Kumar also asked the officials to develop a mobile app soon to identify the number of pet dogs existing in the city and surrounding municipalities so as to issue identity cards to the owners concerned as per the registration. The areas from where most of the stray dog related incidents and cases were registered should be identified and immediate action should be taken to prevent the same. The authorities have been instructed to send veterinary teams to affected areas and take appropriate measures to check the dog menace.
Earlier in the day, panic grips the Rajendranagar area on the city outskirts today after a group of stray dogs attacked two children and injured them grievously. It is said that atleast five similar incidents were reported from the area that created a climate of fear among the locals. This came only two days after a gruesome incident took place at Amberpet area in the city wherein a bunch of stray dogs killed a minor boy.
Similar complaints of rampant increase of stray dogs and frequent attacks on people and children too reported from surrounding municipalities on city outskirts especially in Jalpally where several incidents of canine attacks were already made people aghast who are now venting frustration over the municipal officials and staff for their alleged inaction in tackling the stray dogs menace.
Meanwhile, the GHMC officials in Rajendranagar geared up to tackle the stray dogs issue in the area and are planning to conduct special drives against the menace based on complaints.
