Srinagar: Srinagar Municipal Corporation is all set to come up with animal rehabilitation centre in the wake of large-scale complaints of inconvenience being caused to commuters by stray animals.
An official said that the rehabilitation center will be equipped with all the facilities to rehabilitate the animals which are abandoned on roads here. “The growing menace of these stray animals has become a nuisance for Srinagar residents. The locals are often reaching out to us and we have decided to open the animal rehabilitation center to address the issue,” said an official.
Greater Kashmir has been receiving many complaints from the locals across various areas of Srinagar about the issue. The locals said that the stray animals have become an add-one issue to the already existing dog menace issue. The locals complain that commuters are suffering due to the presence of stray animals on roads.
“These animals not only hamper the traffic movement but also pose a threat of accidents. If one travels from downtown or uptown areas there are hundreds of abandoned stray animals like cows, horses, and sheep that are left unattended,” said Mohammad Ayoub, a local.
SMC veterinary officer, Dr. Javaid said that an animal rehabilitation center will come up at SKUAST Shuhama where the department already has a dog sterilization center. He said that the majority of the formalities to start the work have been completed and the work on the animal rehabilitation center will soon start.
“There will be proper facilities to rehabilitate these stray animals. All the sick, abandoned animals will be the primary focus. Doctors and proper medical facilities to rehabilitee these animals will be provided in the center. We are done with the technical and financial approval for the center. Our DPR is also complete and soon we will float the tenders and work will start on the center,” Javaid said.
The officials said that so far SMC is penalizing those who are leaving stray animals on roads and fines of over 4 lakh rupees have been recovered this year only.
“At the time if there are any unattended animal, we auction it out. Our aim is that Srinagar must be free from these staying animals and those animals which are abandoned, sick and weak should have a place where they are taken care of. This rehabilitation center is part of that project,” said the officials.