Srinagar: The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has proposed to sterilize the entire stray dog population within one year in the city, where this menace has become a vexing issue for the residents.

The stray dog population has witnessed several fold increase in Srinagar during the past few years. According to an official data, about 15,000 dog bite cases were reported in the city and registered at anti-rabies facility of the SMHS hospital between April 2018 and November 2020.

Meanwhile, Srinagar Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu said that SMC will distribute 10,000 N-95 masks among the frontline Corporation field workers.

Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter Mattu, who is president of the Apni Party (AP) youth wing, said “We are proposing Srinagar’s first – comprehensive, humane and scientific project to sterilize the entire stray dog population in the city within one year. This is admittedly an ambitious project and a big challenge, but I assure you, this is a very important priority for us”.

Stray dogs continue to prowl in most areas in Srinagar areas with locals accusing SMC of not taking effective steps to curb the menace. The biggest reason behind the problem is open garbage as stray dogs rely on garbage while hunting for eatables. Countries that have garbage kept in bins and are cleaned regularly see lesser number of stray dogs.

Mattu said a lot of interventions are being made to improve sanitation and make Srinagar free of open garbage sites and dumpsters. “We aim to achieve a 100 per cent door to door collection of segregated waste this year,” he said.

Packs of stray dogs roaming on the city roads is a common sight, particularly on the banks of river Jhelum and Flood channel, making it difficult for locals to move around without confrontation with the animals.

In November 2015, the Supreme Court asked all states and union territories to follow central rules, which ban killing stray dogs in India. The Court ruled that only “irretrievably ill or mortally wounded” stray dogs can be eliminated, which should happen in a “humane manner.”

By: Bhat Lateef

Srinagar, March 16:  The drug department Kashmir has sealed dozens of chemist shops in central and south Kashmir districts as they were either being run without licenses or by the government employees.

An official said the drug department under the supervision of Deputy drug controller Kashmir Irfana Ahmad sealed dozens of chemist shops which were either without license or run by government employees in South and Central kashmir .

Deputy Drug Controller Kashmir, Irfana Ahmad said their special team which was headed by Assistant drug controllers inspected Anantnag, Ganderbal, Budgam and Kulgam districts where they sealed dozens of chemist shops which were running illegally.

She further said that this special drive will continue because government employees are running chemist shops after 6 pm.

She said that the drug department will not allow government employees to run chemist shops illegally.

Meanwhile, locals appreciated the role of drug department including ADCs and drug control officers. (KNS)

Srinagar: A butcher shop was sealed in Chadora town of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district while another shop was sealed in Drinagar outskirts for selling dressed meat.

Sources said Naib Tehsildar Chadura Imtiyaz Ahmad sealed a Meat Shop owned by on Abdul Salam Ganie of Chadura for selling meat at higher rates than fixed by the Government.

An FIR vide number 17/2021 under section 3/7 Essential Commodities Act was registered at police station Chadura against the owner of the shop.

The authorities urged general public for raising the issue with administration if they found any meat seller violating government approved rates.

Meanwhile, a butcher shop was in Elahibagh area of Srinagar for selling imported dressed meat, taking undue advantage of shortage of mutton supply in the Valley.

An official said it had come to the knowledge of the authorities that some unscrupulous elements taking undue advantage of shortage of mutton supply, import dressed meat clandestinely to the Valley in contravention of the rules and regulations of Food safety and standards Act.

“Taking serious note of same a butcher shop at Elahibagh Buchpora has been sealed and drive to curb this illegal practice shall continue in coming days,” he said. (KNT)

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Member of Parliament from Anantnag Hasnain Masoodi on Tuesday termed the annual budgetary allocations for major infra-projects in J&K disappointing and seeks enhancement on government spending on agriculture, its allied sectors, and highways..

Masoodi, while participating in debate on demand for grants in respect of Railways, stated that there has been a 25 per cent increase in budget proposal for railways raising it to Rs 1,10,000 Cr.

However, he said it was disappointing for J&K as no new projects were announced. “While the National Rail plan is a welcome step, the focus has been on Eastern and East Coast region. Similar provisions should have been put in place for J&K. It is disappointing to see Kashmir being ignored with no progress on Baramulla- Kupwara, Jammu- Poonch, Udhampur – Banihal, Qazigund- Pahalgam railway lines. These routes despite being important from the tourism point of view have been ignored,” he said demanding visible progress on all the four railway lines.

Masoodi also sought special focus on the Udhampur – Banihal railway line because of frequent NH 44 closure. He also demanded increase in frequency of Qazigund- Baramulla railway.

He also impressed upon the concerned ministry to give utmost precedence to locals in the recruitment for railways in Jammu and Kashmir.

He reminded that while rail connects cities and towns what is required for JK is connecting hearts. He demanded that peace initiatives at LOC and LAC need to be strengthened and internal and external dialogue initiated.

Earlier, Masoodi demanded extra relief in repayment of education loans to J&K students on account of innumerable predicaments they had to undergo post 5 August 2019 lockdown. He also demanded special incentives for trout farming.