VVIPs miffed with stray dog menace

GHMC officials mostly refuse to accept their request to eliminate dogs from the area as it violates rules

A Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) official, fuming over the attitude of VIPs, bureaucrats and the like, says, “Just because they are street dogs, they want them to be eliminated.” The official involved in the street dog population control programme argues, “We cannot have a police station in every street. They (dogs) play a policing role. But since they bark at night, the VIPs find it disturbing and want us to remove them from their area.”

A top bureaucrat, resident of Banjara Hills and owner of two dogs, complained of street dog nuisance and wanted them removed. The officials concerned had explained to him at length that they could not do it as it violated rules. Yet, he had his way in the end.

It is not just one such case, there are plenty of such instances in which even ministers pressured the corporation to eliminate street dogs from their area. This is further aggravating the situation on the streets.

“After removal of dogs from our area, new dogs have come in and we are finding it more difficult these days as the new ones are more aggressive,” pointed out Pavan Kumar from Bagh Lingampally.

Reasoning this, the officials said, “Street dogs in a particular area are familiar with the residents there. So whatever time you are seen, they don’t bother you. But when dogs are removed from one area, a new team of dogs occupy the place and take time to acclimatise themselves.”

GHMC chief veterinary officer Dr P Venkateswara Reddy admitted that they did receive calls from VVIPs and VIPS, asking elimination of street dogs but refuse to take action. Only on certain occasions like when the President visits the city or when there is a festival like Bonalu, dogs are temporarily picked up and released in the same area again after some time.

While residents of Malkajgiri claim that there is widespread dog menace in the area, Venkateswara Reddy blames the migration of dogs from Cantonment area, as the Secundrabad Cantonment Board has not taken up any dog population control mechanism.