The Indian Express               09.05.2013

MC asks UT for land to set up dog pound

Facing problems in managing the large number of stray dogs in the city, the Municipal Corporation has asked the UT Administration to allocate a piece of land for setting up a dog pound. Though earlier, land was identified in Dhanas, this had been opposed, due to its proximity to the residential area.

In a meeting held on Tuesday with the officials of the UT Administration, the Municipal Corporation raised the demand for the allocation of the land. The proposal for construction of a dog pound has been doing the rounds for several years. Budgetary allocations are made every year. However, the project is yet to see the light of day.

One of the problems that is being faced is the identification of land. Whenever land is identified in a particular area, the residents oppose the setting up of such a facility. While land was identified in Dhanas, starting of a dog pound here has been opposed to. A similar opposition was faced when the proposal to set up a pound was mooted for Dadumajra.

The city has more than 10,000 stray dogs causing problems for the residents. A large number of dog bite cases are reported everyday. Mayor Subhash Chawla said that in order to tackle the stray dog menace, the dog pound will be set up once land for it is identified.

In another decision taken in the meeting, the civic body will provide security guards outside schools in the evening in order to allow children from neighbouring areas to use the playgrounds.

The proposal for allowing children to play in the school playgrounds in the evening has been doing the round for several years. However, this has never been successful due to objections from schools pertaining to the safety of school property.

With MC converting open spaces into parks and playgrounds, there is little space for children to play. The civic body has now proposed that it will deploy a security guard at the school in the evening. In case of any damage to school property, the MC will compensate.

The UT Administration has also accorded in-principle approval to a study tour of the councillors.

Approval has been taken for 20 councillors. The Mayor has said that in case the number of interested councillors increases, another group will be sent. It is likely that the study tour will be going to Kerala.

It was also decided that a fresh survey of Deep Complex will be undertaken before sewerage lines are laid in the area.

Approval has also been given for setting up a college at Manimajra. While Manimajra has a substantial population, there is no college in the area. It has been decided that the land will be provided by the Municipal Corporation in Pocket Number 8 and the construction will be undertaken by the UT Administration.