Let it be a beginning

The wounds to the people by the stray dogs have failed to wake up the concerned Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) from its deep slumber, but finally, the High Court while hearing the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by the law students of Central University of Kashmir, has bright some hopes among the people and are expecting a respite from the terror unleashed by the dogs in every nook and coroner of the City. The Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has been granted a week’s time to furnish the details about stray dogs as well as an action plan for containing the canine menace in Srinagar. In the PIL, the petitioners have submitted that 90,000 stray dogs are roaming in Srinagar city and several minor children have also died after being attacked by stray dogs. The number of dog bite cases is quite disturbing and indicates the failure of the administration in controlling the dog population and also lacking the action plan in this regard. Many promises have been made by the corporation so far, but one fails to understand why the statements have not been implemented on the ground for the last several years. The situation is worsening for the people with each passing day, but the High Court’s fresh direction has generated hopes among the masses, who are expecting positive measures from now on about controlling stray dog menace at earliest. It is a time when the concerned SMC should take immediate steps to bring respite to the people so that they could heave a sigh of relief.