Councillors demand action against stray dogs, monkeys

With residents registering regular complaints about problems they are facing from stray dogs and monkeys, the opposition members in the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) raised the issue in the House meeting of the municipal body.

The councillors alleged that they are facing the ire of the residents even as the corporation has spent crores in curbing the menace.

“We have been getting regular complaints from residents,” said leader of opposition Mukesh Goel adding that there have been several cases of dog bite.

“The corporation has failed to conduct the sterilisation programme of dogs despite spending crores of rupees over the last few years,” added Goel.

The opposition Congress alleged that while the corporation has failed to sterilise the canines, the corporation-run dispensaries and hospitals do not have anti-rabies medicines.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party members extended their support to the opposition on the issue and demanded that officials take all possible measures to curb the menace.

“It is a major problem in almost all the colonies. My son was bit by a dog. I could afford to buy the anti-rabies injection which costs around Rs 20,000, but what about a poor man. Government hospitals do not have the injections. Can he afford treatment in a private clinic?,” said BJP councillor Rajiv Bhatia.

The corporation has spent an average of  Rs 2.5 crore on catching stray animals during the last three financial years.  

However, the councillors alleged the corporation has failed to curb the menace as it lacks in basic facilities like dog impounding vehicles and dog homes.

Sanjay Nayar a BJP councillor said the best way out would be to introduce dog ambulances.

It would help in sterilising the dogs on the spot. Currently the dogs are required to be taken to the clinics, which becomes a problem due to shortage of vehicles.

The councillor also suggested that the corporation could also have a tie-up with the dog clinics and give them incentives to sterilise dogs.