Stray dogs give harrowing time to residents

BHOPAL: Stray dogs are giving a harrowing time to residents in the state capital. With more than 7,000 cases of dog bites reported last year, the civic body stated that it is helpless without funds and manpower to tackle the situation.
The cash-starved government veterinary hospitals also have shortage of anti-rabbi injections.
In most residential colonies it has become difficult to move, especially during the night hours as the dogs chase residents- pedestrians and those on vehicles.
Chief medical officer, Dr Pankaj Shukla said, "In 2012, there were 7,433 cases of dog bites in the city." However, details about number of dog bites in the first two months of the current year are being compiled.
Residents in Arera Colony, Shivaji Nagar, BHEL township and Jawahar Chowk are among the harassed lot who have been taking up the issue during public hearing of the corporation.
Raising the issue at the public hearing of the BMC Vaijyanti Sawariya of Shrikrishnapuram, a locality on Hoshangabad road urged the authorities to save her family from the stray dogs. "Humara parivar aur mohalle kee khoonkhar kutton se raksha kariye".
Residents of the posh Arera Colony are frustrated with the menace. Rashmi Umath, a resident says, "It's difficult to move around in the evening as groups of dogs keeps one following till you reach home." "They are dangerous".
Sulekha Kalra, also a resident of the same locality said, "There were several cases of dog bites reported when kids play out door."
Nikhil Rawat, a resident of Subhash Nagar said, "There are so many dogs in the colony that they even chase you while you drive four-wheelers and the moment you come out, they will stand in a group to welcome you. It's scary!."
Meanwhile, hardly any campaign is on to catch the dogs or sterilize them. There is just one van for catching dogs in Bhopal, according to the BMC officials and that too is not being used.
Dr Mukesh Sharma of Asra veterinary hospital said, "We were given an assignment of sterilizing 200 dogs six months back. But we were able to sterilize only 90 so far."
"We don't have enough facilities in the hospital to perform the operations. Less than 10 dogs are being sterilized per month ".
He emphasized that the campaign to catch dog and sterilize them should be given to NGOs."Let the NGO's handle the dogs as government hospitals have many other works to do. In all the big cities like Jaipur and Delhi stray dog menace is managed by the NGO's."
On the other hand, the BMC health officer SP Shrivastav said, "The BMC allots Rs15 lakh per year to tackle the menace. Steps are being taken to sort out the problem".