Dogs on prowl across Srinagar, SMC in slumber

Failure of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) to check growing population of stray dogs poses risk to people in the summer capital Srinagar.
Packs of stray dogs roaming around in different areas across city including Chanpora, Natipora, Dalgate, Khayam, Jawahar Nagar, Sonwar and even in the commercial hub of Lal Chowk and Regal Chowk pose serious threat to residents and commuters.
The canines even attack vehicles and motorbikes plying during the evening hours.
“In absence of any measure taken by the SMC, peoples’ lives remain at risk. These dogs attack commuters in groups. Such has been the scare around that people prefer not to venture out of homes during evening hours,” said Mubashir Hussain of Natipora.
In residential areas of Badyari Chowk residents said they don’t come out of house during early morning hours and during evenings. “One can spot dozens of stray dogs roaming freely, feasting on garbage and chasing residents,” said one of the residents of Dalgate.
“Dogs chase us even during daytime. At least 20 to 25 dogs can be spotted in our street at any time during day,” said Nasir Ahmad of Dalgate.
According to residents, authorities have failed to initiate any concrete efforts to control the problem.
“There are always chances of road accidents when a group of dogs chase a two-wheeler rider. Their chase and barking puts the rider under fear who can lose balance and meet fatal accident,” said Mushtaq Ahmad of Jawahar Nagar.
Heaps of garbage dumps lying on the roads at different places across city are also a reason for growing population of canine in Srinagar.
The inhabitants of Sonwar complained while hundreds of dogs prowl in the area the authorities had failed to check the menace. “For the past several years the dog population has reached alarming level with over one lakh canine prowling in the city alone. Still, the SMC has failed to act,” said Sajad Ahmad, a local resident of Sonwar.
Residents of areas like Barbar Shah, Qamarwari, Batamaloo, Noorbagh had similar complainants.
Several groups of commuters and shopkeepers expressed concern over presence of large number of stray dogs at Polo View. “The stray dogs chase pedestrians even during evening hours. We make a fervent appeal to commissioner SMC to look into the matter and direct the concerned officials to take measures to check the menace,” they said.
SMC’s chief enforcement officer Sofi Akbar said measures are on to control population of stray dogs. “Hopefully by June, we will be able to expedite sterilization process,” he said.