The Times of India 01.02.2013
HDMC drags its feet as pigs go on rampage
DHARWAD: The promise made
by the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation to free the twin a city of
pigs has remained unfulfilled that to the nexus between HDMC officials
and pig owners.
On July 27 last year, four-year-old Jagan Anigol, a resident of Medargalli in Haveripet, of ward no.6 in Dharwad
was injured when a pig attacked him and bit his genitals. On Wednesday, five-year-old physically challenged Vishal Doddamani of Danu Nagar was met with similar fate. He also suffered injuries on his genitals and is being treated at the district civil hospital.
The menace of pigs and stray dogs has troubled citizens of the city for years and there have been a number of accidents due to stray pigs. The decision of the HDMC to eliminate pigs by shooting them has remained on paper. The HDMC at its general body meeting held on July 30, 2012, had passed a resolution unanimously to empower the Mayor and HDMC commissioner to take appropriate action to end pig and stray dog menace within a month. It has been seven months since the resolution was passed and pigs continue to enjoy their free ride around the city.
A HDMC official, on condition of anonymity, however said the laws providing protection to the animals do not allow them to kill it leaving them with the only option of catching and shifting them out.
HDMC legal cell officials said it was better to prepare an action plan to eliminate stray pigs and dogs in consultation with the Advocate General. Though the laws meant for the protection of animals prohibit killing them, there were provisions to kill them in case they were afflicted by diseases, they said.
Their movement, which was earlier confined to slums and narrow lanes in old Dharwad, is now extended to posh localities including the Mini Vidhana Soudha premises.
Pig owners were asked to shift the pigs to a distant place away from the city but they have not bothered to follow the orders. The threat of shooting the pigs down has also not come true. Stray pigs are also the main reason for the spread of dengue fever, which has already claimed 15 lives including 10 in Hubli and five in Dharwad.
On July 27 last year, four-year-old Jagan Anigol, a resident of Medargalli in Haveripet, of ward no.6 in Dharwad
was injured when a pig attacked him and bit his genitals. On Wednesday, five-year-old physically challenged Vishal Doddamani of Danu Nagar was met with similar fate. He also suffered injuries on his genitals and is being treated at the district civil hospital.
The menace of pigs and stray dogs has troubled citizens of the city for years and there have been a number of accidents due to stray pigs. The decision of the HDMC to eliminate pigs by shooting them has remained on paper. The HDMC at its general body meeting held on July 30, 2012, had passed a resolution unanimously to empower the Mayor and HDMC commissioner to take appropriate action to end pig and stray dog menace within a month. It has been seven months since the resolution was passed and pigs continue to enjoy their free ride around the city.
A HDMC official, on condition of anonymity, however said the laws providing protection to the animals do not allow them to kill it leaving them with the only option of catching and shifting them out.
HDMC legal cell officials said it was better to prepare an action plan to eliminate stray pigs and dogs in consultation with the Advocate General. Though the laws meant for the protection of animals prohibit killing them, there were provisions to kill them in case they were afflicted by diseases, they said.
Their movement, which was earlier confined to slums and narrow lanes in old Dharwad, is now extended to posh localities including the Mini Vidhana Soudha premises.
Pig owners were asked to shift the pigs to a distant place away from the city but they have not bothered to follow the orders. The threat of shooting the pigs down has also not come true. Stray pigs are also the main reason for the spread of dengue fever, which has already claimed 15 lives including 10 in Hubli and five in Dharwad.
