Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 29: High Court while taking serious note of uncontrolled dog menace has directed the authorities to submit a clear cut plan of action as also the time line to overcome this peril.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmad and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey while hearing a PIL directed Srinagar Municipal Corporation to submit its clear cut plan of action and clear cut time line to control the peril.
Court has been apprised by the amicus to the PIL advocate Nadeem Qadri that as per the court directions the availability of medicines for dog bites has not been done by the Government as also no steps have been taken by the authorities to control the menace.
Counsel appearing for the Corporation (SMC) Advocate Momin Khan submitted that some recommendations have been made by the Corporation in controlling the menace as also an advertisement in a daily newspaper has been published by the Corporation for awareness of the public.
Court observed that this is not enough as it appears to be very inadequate as per the information of SMC there are large numbers of canines (450000) in Srinagar city. “We note that since from 2011 this Court directed for sterilization and immunization of dogs by SMC and it is now 6th year. Yet, there are no complete results in this process”, DB said and directed the Corporation to file the status report for the last three years indicating therein the sterilization and immunization of dogs in city.
Advocate Qadri submitted before the court that non implementation of solid waste management rules is the main cause of dog menace in the city.
“SMC is directed to ensure the directions as passed in one of the PILs pending before the court with regard to solid waste and ensure no garbage is lying on the roads”, DB said.
Court also directed the Corporation to take help of Animal Welfare Board and man handlers for the purpose of catching stray dogs and in this connection SKUAST has also been directed to fully cooperate with the Corporation. “Health Department to file status report about the availability of anti-rabies and human rabies in hospitals”, court directed.
Advocate Qadri submitted before the Division Bench that every day approximately 100 cases of dog bites are brought to hospital which itself is an answer as how the menace is uncontrolled. He further added that there is no proper medicines and vaccination of dog bite available in hospital which can prevent a victim from infected by rabies. Court directed the Government to ensure that such kind of medicines and vaccination be made available at all dispensaries also.
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