The people in district headquarter Pauri have been facing problems due to stray animals in town for the past many years. There have been cases in which people including senior citizens, children and women have been injured due to the stray animals. However, despite the repeated demand of the citizens, proper action has not been taken yet by either the municipality or the district administration.
The municipality under its chairman Yashpal Benam has remained apathetic to the populationof stray cattle, dogs and pigs in different parts of the town. While many people have so far been injured due to stray bulls on the roads, some have also been bitten by stray dogs. Recently a teacher of the Government girls college was injured by a stray bull.
Pauri District Magistrate Sushil Kumar told this correspondent that a committee has been set up and a meeting will be held soon to address the issues related to stray animals.
Experts say that the Supreme Court had also given directions regarding the stray animals to municipal councils and other departments concerned.
Though stray animals are reported to be causing problems for peoplein all mountainous districts of the State, the disturbance to traffic and pedestrians is stated to be higher in Pauri town.
In Chamoli district, the administration has held a meeting with the District Magistrate Ashish Joshi directing the municipality executive officer and vetenary department regarding the mandatory tagging and registration of the bovines, warning that action could be taken against those who let their domesticated animals out to roam stray.
As insurance can be facilitated on the basis of tagging and registration, it will also be beneficial to the cattle rearers. The district magistrate directed officials to speed up the tagging and registration process along with identification of stray cattle so that the owners can be penalised.
He also said that apart from sterilisation of stray dogs, shelters for stray animals should also be constructed by all the local bodies in the district.