Talks between SMC-locals for construction of dog pounds failed

Srinagar: Efforts to check the dog menace in the summer capital of the state on the directions by Jammu and Kashmir High Court, received a major set back when the residents of a village, where the dog pounds were being constructed, openly opposed it and threatened to launch a massive agitation.
The residents of Khimber and nearby villages forced the Srinagar Municipal Corporation(SMC) to suspend construction of dog pounds.
Rejecting the offer of the SMC to provide jobs to the locals for maintaining these pounds, Sarpanch of the Khimber Bashir Ahmad said, “we will not allow any such construction at any cost. If we will have to come on streets and receive bullets and lathis, we will oppose the construction of dog pounds which will affect not only our social life but also put into danger our livestock, the only source of income.” The High Court on a PIL on dog menace had directed the SMC to get dog pound constructed at Khimber in Ganderbal district within two weeks, where the stray dogs prowling in the city are to be confined and sterilized.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ibraheem Kalifullah and Justice M H Attar on August 17 hearing a PIL filed by Viva, an NGO rejected the SMC plea that Khimber site was not accessible.
The court also took a serious note of the recent threat call by Batamaloo residents that they would kill stray dogs if the SMC fails to act.
The summer capital with over one lakh dogs reportedly on prowl has witnessed a surge in the canine attacks while at least three people including a 10-year-old boy had died during the past four months.
The Commissioner, SMC Mustaq Ahmad informed said that in response to the High Court directive to the SMC to create pounds for housing of stray dogs of Srinagar city, the government constituted a committee on July 19 to observe the behaviour of dogs kept in pounds and advise on formulation of detailed project report for creation of required number of pounds, infrastructure requirements including food and number of dog catchers and caretakers required in such pounds.
The SMC commissioner informed the SMC has identified land at Khimber for creation of such pounds and accordingly, the work had been started for development of the area with other logistical facilities.
However, as soon as the SMC workers started construction of dog pounds last week, a large number of people gathered at the spot and halted the work.
The locals made the workers hostage and snatched all the construction tools from them. Later it was only after concerned tehsildar intervened the officials and workers were released.