The Urban Development and Animal Husbandry Minister Pritam Singh Panwar has stressed on the need for measures to ensure the protection and welfare of animals. He said this while speaking at a meet held on the subject of stray animals in the Vidhan Sabha on Thursday.
The Minister quoted a survey stating that the population of stray animals was increasing rapidly which is a cause for concern. The stray animal population had caused an increase in accidents and the spread of contagious disease.
“Shelters have been provided for the protection and welfare of animals but it is sad that most such shelters are not operating due to which animals are turning stray and dotting the roads,” he said.
“There are about 60 animal shelters of district Panchayats in the State out of which 90 per cent are either closed or being used for some other purpose by the Panchayats. These shelters are not succeeding in meeting the purpose for which they were constructed. Due to this the stray animal population has increased in both urban and rural areas,” said Panwar.
He directed the municipal corporation officials to activate the animal shelters in their respective areas and with the assistance of the Animal Husbandry department, facilitate the registration and tagging of stray cattle apart from providing them necessary treatment. He also directed officials to ensure that the closed district Panchayat animal shelters are opened and put to use for the intended purpose.