The Hindu/Hyderabad/Strays give sleepless nights to MCH

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Date:12/04/2007 URL:

http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/12/stories/2007041218840300.htm

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Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

 

Strays give sleepless nights to MCH

 

Staff Reporter

 

Khairtabad MLA seeks suspension of caretaker, warden

 

 

 

 

 

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a.. Dog bite complaints double to 40 per day

a.. MCH picks up more than 100 dogs on Wednesday

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HYDERABAD: Stray dogs continue to dog MCH. While it is under tremendous

public pressure to " act decisively " in tackling the issue, the Animal Welfare

Board regulations and non-governmental organisations are keeping it on a tight

leash.

 

To add to their woes, the veterinary wing is faced with handling not only

increasing incidence of dog bites not only within its jurisdiction but also

outside it. If complaints have doubled to 40 a day, many of them pertain to

neighbouring municipalities, putting it in a fix.

 

The corporation did intervene and sent its dog squad to a 1,000 acre

defence facility on Tuesday following a distress call but it is made clear that

they do not have the men, machinery or mandate to tackle dog menace throughout

`Greater Hyderabad'.

 

Special drives

 

 

" We are already undertaking special drives in all the circles and our men

are putting in extra hours, " said Chief Veterinary Officer P. Venkateshwar Reddy

on Wednesday. There is a worry of backlash if any of the dog catchers gets

injured in any untoward incident while working outside corporation area. The MCH

has picked up more than 100 dogs including five from within the Osmania

University College for Women campus at Koti on Wednesday. Dr. Reddy said special

focus was on picking up stray dogs from slum areas and predominantly in places

around Secunderabad, Banjara Hills, Saidabad, Charminar, etc. Meanwhile,

Ahmedabad-based Animal Help Foundation (AHF) team is expected to start its

innovative animal birth control operations from the weekend onwards in Circle

one area. A communication to this effect was received in MCH on Wednesday from

AHF's Rajiv Sehgal.

 

Police protection

 

 

Meanwhile, Mr. Reddy has sought police protection, starting from Thursday

for a week's time in view of the special enforcement drive being started to

control menace of pigs, cattle, dogs and illegal slaughter of animals.

 

He indicated that his veterinary staff was facing resistance from

anti-social elements and also few locals whenever they were performing their

duties in interest of public health.

 

Therefore, he sought a protection of at least three armed police

personnel.

 

Management faulted

 

 

Khairatabad MLA P. Janardhan Reddy on Wednesday said negligence on the

part of the Koti Women's College administration was responsible for the incident

of stray dogs attacking seven students on the campus and demanded suspension of

the caretaker and warden.

 

In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy, he sought

disciplinary action against the college principal for failing to discharge her

duties. Though the students complained to the authorities about the movement of

stray dogs, no immediate action was taken to check the menace, he said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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