Private company to conduct dog sterilisation in Hasanpur village

The district administration has tied up with a private firm associated with the Municipal Corporation to conduct sterilisation of stray dogs in Hasanpur village on an emergency basis.

The administration will compensate the company, which was already operating in the Ludhiana MC limits, as per existing terms and conditions.

All action will be carried out in accordance with the standard operating procedures of the Animal Birth Control programme.

The development assumes significance as stray dogs had mauled two minor school children to death in the village last week, following which panic had gripped Hasanpur and residents were not letting their wards step out of houses for fear of ferocious canines.

Besides, municipal councils in different towns of the district will also issue tenders for the sterilisation of stray dogs in rural areas of the district this week.

Deputy Commissioner( DC) Jitendra Jorwal said the sterilisation project aims to control the canine population and reduce the incidence of dog bites. “The private firm associated with the Municipal Corporation will start sterilisation of stray dogs in Hasanpur village, on an immediate basis,” he said, adding that the BDPO along with the Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry Department would be the nodal officers to ensure effective implementation of the project.

The DC said all other civic bodies in the district had been directed to float tenders within this week and award works to suitable firms for efficiently carrying out the sterilisation operations in accordance with the guidelines set by the Animal Welfare Board of India in villages and towns under their respective MC limits.

“The selected firms will be required to maintain thorough records of each sterilised dog to ensure transparency in its operations,” the DC said.

He said the firms would also provide services in rural areas on payment basis. Jorwal said a committee would be established at the civic body level to oversee the work being carried out by the chosen company.

Additional Deputy Commissioners Amarjit Bains and Rohit Gupta, Chief Minister’s field officer Kritika Goyal and SDMs Jasleen Kaur and Poonampreet Kaur were among those others present in the meeting to chalk out a plan in this regard.