Dog Sterilization Programme in Srinagar Comes to Halt Amid Official Apathy
Cold Weather Cited as Reason for Suspension of Canine Birth Control Drive
Srinagar, Feb 1, KNT: The much-publicized Dog Birth Control Programme in Srinagar has come to a standstill, allegedly due to lack of coordination and seriousness on the part of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation and the Animal Welfare Board of India.
Official sources told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that a Memorandum of Understanding had been signed between the two bodies to implement the sterilization initiative, but commitments regarding infrastructure and operational support were not fully honoured. As a result, the programme was halted in December last year.
The sterilization drive had commenced in May and, before its suspension, nearly 1,000 stray dogs were reportedly sterilized. Sources said that during the implementation phase, the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals monitored the functioning of the programme and attempted to identify procedural shortcomings. However, officials claimed that the Society eventually disengaged after realising that both implementing agencies were not adequately addressing logistical and administrative requirements.
Commissioner of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Dr Gulam Nabi Qasba, attributed the suspension of the programme to harsh winter conditions. He maintained that plummeting temperatures in the Valley had affected field operations and the recovery process of sterilized animals.
The Commissioner asserted that the Corporation remains committed to controlling the stray dog population and has invested substantial funds in creating necessary infrastructure. He said a sterilization centre had been established at Shuhama, Tangapora, and that veterinary professionals and support staff had been trained in scientific dog-catching and sterilization procedures. He further claimed that the Corporation’s efforts in this regard compare favourably with other municipal bodies across the country.
The suspension of the Programme has once again raised concerns among inhabitants about the growing stray dog population and associated public safety issues. [KNT]
