In the past six months, over 350 cases of dog bites have been reported in the Valley, making people cautious while walking on their own streets. Hospitals are grappling with an influx of 30 to 40 dog-bite cases daily. Over the past year, the valley witnessed a staggering 6,800 animal bite cases, with a startling 80% attributed to stray dog incidents, marking the highest count in three years. The vulnerable segments of society, the elderly and school children have been most affected. People are blaming the Municipal Corporation for what many perceive as inadequate action. .
We have witnessed a surge in the dog population across the Valley, estimated between 50,000 to 60,000 in the city alone. Each mohalla has over a dozen strays. Dogs are intruding into hospital premises, schools, parks, markets, and community spaces, disrupting the fabric of daily life. Official data from the Anti-Rabies Clinic at Government Medical College (GMC) reveals a troubling trend, with 4,912 cases treated solely in the city.
The alarming rise in dog bites raises questions about the delay in establishing crucial Animal Birth Control (ABC) centers in Srinagar city, the absence of which has contributed significantly to this crisis. The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) operates a lone functional center at Shuhama, capable of sterilizing a minimal number of dogs daily—far below the required rate. The delay in completing the second center in Tengpora, anticipated to perform 60 sterilizations daily with a capacity of 210 kennels, is a significant setback. Despite claims of being in the ‘final stages’ for months, the center remains unopened due to pending finishing tasks.
It is now clear that the Animal Birth Control program initiated in 2013 has failed to yield substantial results due to operational lethargy and insufficient infrastructure. Despite previous assurances, promised initiatives to sterilize and vaccinate 50,000 stray dogs within six months have not materialized on the ground.
True, the Municipal Corporation has joined forces with the Veterinary Department of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology to contain the growing dog menace. Their strategy revolves around the sterilization of stray dogs and administering anti-rabies injections—a concerted effort aimed at curbing their burgeoning population and mitigating the risks associated with rabies. But this will need to be expedited if streets have to be made safe for people. Government has a responsibility to do so.
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