SHILLONG, NOV 28: Meghalaya urban affairs minister Ampareen Lyngdoh on Friday said absence of a committee and a reputed Animal Welfare Organization (AWO), has put the Shillong Municipal Board-SMB- in a spot as it is unable to address the menace of stray dogs.
Replying during the question hours on Friday in the assembly, Lyngdoh said, “There is a need for the SMB to form a committee which has to be adequately represented by a AWO. However, despite requests made for the formation of such organization, unfortunately there are no takers.”
Lyngdoh informed that by not having a committee in place, the government hands are tight. She said as per the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules 2001 it provides for impounding and sterilization of stray dogs in dog shelters which shall be managed by a local AWO.
As per the rules, the stray dogs shall be captured by a trained team consisting of a representative from the AWO and shall be brought to a dog pound.
“In the absence of the AWO locally, the SMB’s own constraints like lack of infrastructure and funds, the animals are mostly released again either to the owners who come to claim back their pets,” Lyngdoh said, adding “Because there are rules which needs to be followed, it has become difficult for the SMB to execute the work on this matter.”
Lyngdoh informed that a PIL filed way back in 2007 to restrain SMB from capturing and eliminating stray dogs in Shillong city was finally closed in 2012, with the order to take remedies as per laws. Hence from 2007 to 2012, nothing much could be done by the SMB on the menace of stray dogs in Shillong,” she said.
Lyngdoh informed that at present, sterilization of stray dogs is being taken up with the help of Veterinary and Animal Husbandary department.
Raising the issue, United Democratic Party (UDP) legislator Jemino Mawthoh said that there is an increasing population of stray dogs in the city and this has become a big problem for the people who want to venture out for morning walk or in the evening time.
“Many cases where people are bitten by stray dogs even resulting in deaths have been reported,” Mawthoh said.
Admitting to this, Lyngdoh said, “I personally also receive complaints stating that stray dogs have become a menace in our city. We are aware of the problem and we will take up the matter seriously.”
Lyngdoh revealed that the SMB do not have proper shelter to keep the dogs besides it cannot undertake sterilization it does not have funds. She however said the SMB has started to set up the token to dog owner for raising fund which certain amount which is small and is being collected.
Despite the constrain Lyngdoh said that the department “will work out a mechanism very shortly even as she said that there has been no specific study so far on the population of stray dogs in the state.- By Our Reporter
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