VELLORE: Stray dogs are posing a serious threat to the residents of Sathuvachari, particularly to the residents of Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB) and Thendral Nagar opposite Collectorate. Of the 20 or so stray dogs, many are suspected of having rabies and is proving to be a nightmare for residents.
The lethargic attitude of TNHB and Vellore Corporation officials in dealing with the presence of stray dogs is a major cause of concern, said several residents of the locality. “If officials fail to keep the area adjoining the District Collectorate clean, what will be the situation in areas far away?” said a government school teacher preferring anonymity.
“We can’t even walk in the area due to stray dogs, especially during night hours,” said a woman, resident of Thendral Nagar near the District Police Office and pointed at a pack of stray dogs loitering nearby. “We fear to let our children outside the house, particularly in the evenings,” she added.
Thick grown weeds and shrubs in and around the TNHB is also adding to the woes of the residents. The workers are not cleaning the garbage and drainage properly and regularly. It has led to the increase in the number of poisonous insects. Repeated complaints by the housing board residents to the sanitary inspector have gone unheeded.
Anbu, a housing board resident said, “Garbage and drainage issue is the worrying factor in the colony. They haven’t cleaned the garbage, now the stray dogs are also harming us.”
In response, the city health officer Vasanth Diwakar said, “I visited the area on Monday. I ordered the sanitary inspector to look into the issue seriously and to catch the stray dogs.”
When asked about the Corporation workers inaction in the Housing Board area near Collectorate, he replied, “In two or three days, we will conduct a mass cleaning in the area and also uproot the ‘Karuvelam plant, which is harmful to the environment and humans.”