The Times of India 30.12.2010
MCD admits to releasing stray dogs in Noida during Games ‘clean-up’
after sterilizing stray dogs the civic agency is supposed to release
them in the area where they were picked up from. MCD’s act of rounding
up dogs in Delhi and releasing them in Noida is in direct violation of these rules.
“During the Games, we were releasing stray dogs picked up from the
capital in Noida. But the dogs kept coming back to Delhi. Thereafter, we
decided to seek the help of NGO Friendicoes SPCA, which helped provide
shelters to such dogs and ensured their proper upkeep. After the Games,
dogs were released in the same colonies where they were picked up
from,” said Mehra.
Animal activists, meanwhile, criticized the
statement made by the commissioner saying that it puts at risk the
animal birth control programme being carried out by MCD. “According to
stray animal management rules 2001, dogs that are picked up by MCD for
sterilization have to be released in the same area. However, we had all
heard rumors during the Games that stray dogs were being picked up
randomly from everywhere. In fact, sterilized dogs were also rounded up
by MCD. Dogs were missing from VIP areas such as CP, Ashok Road, etc.
The statement made by MCD commissioner is shocking. They cannot take
such action just because the city is holding an event,” said Ambika
Shukla, managing director of People for the Ethical Treatment of
Animals.
Playing down the statement by Mehra, MCD’s press and
information director, Deep Mathur, later sent a press release claiming:
“With regard to the commissioner’s statement in the standing committee
concerning stray dogs being taken to Noida before commencement of the
Commonwealth Games and their subsequent return to Delhi, it is clarified
by way of elaboration that MCD had a tie-up with the Society for
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Noida, for safe shelter and
upkeep of stray during the Games. Under the tie-up with SPCA, Noida,
MCD’s veterinary services department transported and handed over 20
stray dogs shifted from colonies,” said Mathur.
Mathur further
said, “After the Games, MCD deported these dogs to Delhi and
subsequently shifted them to the colonies and areas from where they were
lifted. The entire process was completed as per the guidelines laid
down by the Animal Welfare Board of India.”
The statement by
the commissioner came after a councillor from Begumpur, Jai Bhagwan
Yadav, claimed that incidents of dog bites had gone up in his area and
nothing was being done. “The number of incidents of dog bites have risen
in my ward. Something should be done about it. MCD veterinary
department has not been able to catch even one dog in the past 15
days,” said Yadav. One councillor, Rajesh Gaur, also suggested shifting
the dogs to a jail in Shahdara (south) zone.
Mehra stated that
MCD was constructing a veterinary hub in Mukundpur which would provide
more facilities for carrying out sterilization of dogs that would help
reduce incidents of dog bites and would help bring under control the
stray dog population in the city.
