Rourkela: Stray dog menace in the city has been on the rise with the sluggish run of animal birth control (ABC) programme launched in 2010-11.
So far, only 1,539 dogs have been sterislied by the Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC) in the last six years, veterinary office sources said.
Though a district technical committee was formed to step up the ABC programme, the campaign is yet to gain momentum in the absence of required infrastructure, adequate technical hands and other facilities, it was learnt.
Meanwhile, there is a significant increase in the number of dog-bite cases with packs of dogs roaming around the city round the clock. The city witnesses three to four road mishaps caused by dogs on a daily basis, a study said.
Checking the canine population seems to be a challenge to the administration with the city vying for Smart City status, locals said.
According to 2012 census, there were 12,450 stray dogs in the city. However, their number has shot up to nearly 20,000 at present due to poor implementation of the programme. While the project aimed at sterlising about 100 dogs a month, the authorities manage something between 40 and 60, it was learnt. To make matters worse, the programme is no more in operation for the last six months.
On the other hand, of the 40 kennels set up for sterilisation surgery, 20 are yet to become operational.
According to kennel staff, government provides Rs 300 for cost of every operation and only `12 on diet for each dog after the surgery. All the sterilised dogs are kept for five days at the kennels. The funds are inadequate to carry out the programme, they said.
Staff crunch is another reason which has adversely affected the drive, officials said. At least two laboratory technicians and two surgeons are what required for a smooth run of the programme but it is managed with a lone surgeon. Similarly, there is no sufficient staff to catch dogs from various parts of the city, it was learnt.
RMC commissioner Akhay Kumar Mallik said funds and infrastructure are inadequate at the moment. He has apprised the collector and top officials of the problems and hopes things would fall in place soon, Mallik added.
Meanwhile, resentment is brewing among the denizens over the miserable execution of the programme. PNN