‘Helpless’ over stray dog menace, will Karnataka govt now move SC?

Over the last four years, 1.81 lakh dogs have been sterilized in Bengaluru, according to government data. But, when it comes to managing the current issue the government feels helpless.

After showing its helplessness in tackling the stray dog menace in Bengaluru Karnataka Government is now planning to approach the Supreme Court.

Representational image (Source: unsplash.com)

“The state government is powerless to deal with stray dogs in Bengaluru beyond sterilisation drives and anti-rabies vaccine administration.” Law Minister JC Madhuswamy, told the Karnataka Assembly on Tuesday. He was responding to a question from Basavanagudi MLA Ravi Subramanaya, who state that the stray dog "problem" needed to be addressed immediately because many people, particularly students on two-wheelers, had been bitten. He urged the government to consider filing a review petition with the Supreme Court, which Madhuswamy said would be considered.

In response, Madhuswamy stated that a Supreme Court order made it clear that the government could not take any measures other than sterilization and the administration of the anti-rabies vaccine. "Animal welfare organizations have made it impossible for us to touch the dogs because they have filed so many petitions with the Court. It is not possible to euthanize or relocate the dogs," he stated. The government will now explore legal actions and consider moving apex court to find a solution to this decades-old problem that has affected ever Bengalurean.

According to Madhuswamy, transferring dogs and sheltering them in facilities similar to goshalas for cows is difficult. "What if the dogs infiltrate a village and the villagers protest in front of the Vidhana Soudha?" So, what are we to do?" he asked rhetorically.

"Reading the Supreme Court order makes us feel like we should have been dogs," Kumar, Former Law Minister, joked.

“Organisations in charge of carrying out the sterilisation campaign are failing. The government should set aside open spaces outside of the city for the rehabilitation of stray dogs,” Subramanya voiced his opinion. Suresh Kumar, MLA from Rajajinagar, also commented on how difficult it was to obtain anti-rabies vaccine, making it difficult for the common man to receive timely medication.

As per the government data, 1.81 lakh dogs have been sterilised in Bengaluru over the last four years, while 2.53 lakh have received anti-rabies vaccine.