Dog sterilisation resumes in P’kula

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, October 21

Finally, the Panchkula Municipal Corporation (MC) has cleared the pending bills of the private agency that was allotted the work of sterilisation of stray dogs. With this, the agency, entrusted with the responsibility, has resumed the work after around three months.

Dr MR Singla of Safeguard Security Services said the pending bills were cleared recently on the directions of MC Commissioner Rajesh Jogpal. The agency has started the work, he said.

On July 5, the agency had issued a notice to the Panchkula MC for clearing its payment but the civic body made payment only for 10 days of May. As the MC did not clear the bills amounting to Rs 2.75 lakh, the agency suspended the work. On July 17, it issued another notice but nothing happened. As there was a controversy going on between the previous MC Commissioners and Mayor, the work of sterilisation of stray dogs was stopped.

The MC had offered to pay Rs 804 per dog to the firm whereas it demanded Rs 970. However, it was negotiated. It was decided that each dog would have a visible plastic tag on one of its ears, which would include its number and the name of the agency. This would also help in counting the dogs and ensure that there was no repetition.

Situation grim

As per the records, a total of 2,879 cases of dog bite were reported in 2013, 5,761 cases in 2014, 2,526 in 2015 and 2,661 in 2016. This year already more than 1,000 dog bite cases have been reported in Panchkula district.