Fund crunch hits efforts to curb stray dog, monkey menace in Telangana
Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and Gram Panchayats in Telangana are facing mounting challenges in tackling stray dog and monkey menace due to shortage of funds, staff and infrastructure. Financial constraints, lack of equipment, and dependence on welfare organisations have left many local bodies unable to cope with the growing problem.
Hyderabad: Many Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and Gram Panchayats in the State are struggling to control the stray dog and monkey menace within their respective limits due to shortage of funds, staff, equipment and infrastructure.
Reports of stray dog attacks on people, particularly children and senior citizens, have been increasing in several ULBs. Similarly, households and farmers across rural areas have been repeatedly complaining about the growing monkey menace.
There are about 3.30 lakh stray dogs in different ULBs across the State. Of these, around 1.88 lakh dogs have been sterilised over the last five years, officials claimed.
However, despite these claims, the situation on the ground remains grim. Over the past five years, nearly 11,000 dog bite complaints were lodged in the State, including about 5,000 cases from Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation and 1,300 from Siddipet Municipality.
Of the 141 ULBs in the State, prior to the merger of 27 ULBs with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, only 44 had Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres, while about 104 ULBs have entered into tie-ups with various animal welfare organisations to undertake sterilisation and immunisation of stray dogs.
ULBs without ABC centres are dependent on nearby municipalities equipped with such facilities. Given the financial constraints, many ULBs are unable to establish ABC centres, as it costs about Rs 50 lakh to set up one centre, a senior official said.
Apart from this, shortage of equipment, veterinary doctors, medicines, pre and post-sterilisation care facilities and kennels pose additional challenges for ULBs. As per Animal Welfare Board of India norms, ULBs have to pay between Rs 1,400 and Rs 1,600 per dog for sterilisation to animal welfare organisations.
Catching and transporting stray dogs to ABC centres remains a major challenge. Some animal welfare organisations handle the entire process, including catching dogs, transporting them to ABC centres, carrying out sterilisation and releasing them back at the same locations. However, ULBs that have not entered into agreements with such organisations are forced to hire professional dog catchers, arrange transport to ABC centres and release them after sterilisation.
Monkey menace in Gram Panchayats
While stray dogs pose a serious challenge for ULBs, many gram panchayats are grappling with the monkey menace. The issue was raised in the Assembly during the last session, following which Speaker G Prasad Kumar directed the State government to initiate measures to protect farmers from the problem.
In 2020, Telangana’s first Monkey Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre was established at Gandi Ramanna Haritha Vanam in Nirmal district. ULBs and gram panchayats across the State that capture monkeys are required to transport them to the Nirmal centre for sterilisation.
Interestingly, despite an increase in monkey menace complaints from panchayats, the Forest department, which operates the centre, said it was yet to be utilised to its full capacity.
The centre has the capacity to handle 100 cages, but only about 10 to 20 monkeys are brought there every month. Due to financial constraints, many panchayats are unable to transport monkeys all the way to Nirmal, a senior Forest department official said.
For catching monkeys, panchayats have to hire professionals who charge between Rs 500 and Rs 800 per monkey. In addition, sterilisation and treatment costs amount to around Rs 800 per monkey.
As most panchayats cannot afford these expenses, the department staff at times carries out sterilisation and treatment free of cost. However, releasing the monkeys back at the same locations remains the responsibility of the panchayats, the official added.
