VISAKHAPATNAM:Protesting against the GVMC’s slow measures to rein in stray dogs, protests, rallies and dharnas were staged by the local people at several places. Demanding immediate measures to check the menace, a large number of women, students and some NGOs staged protests. Students of various schools and senior citizens took out a rally at Madhavadhara. A large number of women and residents of Prahladapuram, Naiduthota, Simhachalam, Gajuwaka and Madhurawada took out rallies. At Arilova, a group of auto-rickshaw drivers took a vehicle rally demanding an end to the stray dog menace by the GVMC, while some of the engineering college students have planned to launch a novel protest. Student clubs of various colleges have decided to conduct rallies and other programmes at various places demanding immediate measures against the stray dogs.
“In the name of the acts and court directions, the GVMC is escaping from its responsibility. The problem is not confined to one or two areas, it is everywhere. A large number of people were injured by dog bites and also bikers are meeting with accidents due to dog attacks. We have decided to take up some protests at various places Saturday and Sunday,” a group of B.Tech students led by Ch Madhav and Y Sravani of Gopalapatnam said.
The situation has worsened and children are scared to move out. After the sad Siripuram junction incident, parents are worrying about the safety of their kids, they added.
The denizens hope that the protests would wake up the GVMC from its slumber and control the dog menace in the city. The GVMC announced Wednesday that the sterilisation of stray dogs will be increased. It aims to complete 30,000 sterilisations in the next five months.
Action Plan
According to GVMC commissioner Pravin Kumar, an action plan has been drafted to control the menace. According to the plan, every day 200 stray dogs will be caught and will be shifted to three dog shelters for sterilisation. The commissioner, along with city veterinary officer S Jayaram and Horticulture assistant director M Damodar, visited the Narava dog shelter Wednesday. The GVMC and the Animal Husbandry Department would jointly implement the action plan, Pravin Kumar said. More temporary dog shelters would be opened at various places in the city. Besides sterilisations, 10,000 anti-Rabies vaccinations would be administered to stray dogs, the commissioner said.