'Oldest sector home to most canines'

Here is a tag, which one of the oldest sectors of Chandigarh would not be proud to showcase: of having maximum number of stray dogs. With 347 canines on the loose, Sector 22 has earned the dubious distinction of topping the chart of residential-commercial areas with stray dogs.

A survey conducted by the animal husbandry department has excavated this nugget of information and handed the second position to Sector 19 with 333 dogs, while Sector 12 bags third place with 270 stray dogs.

Manimajra topped villages and colonies with 515 stray dogs. The survey further points out that there are 7,847 stray dogs in the city, highlighting the failure of the municipal corporation in keeping a leash on the problem.

Among sectors with maximum domestic dogs, Sector 38 takes the lead with a score of 294. The survey found population of domestic dogs at 9,824 in the city.

In 2012, a total of 4,486 dog bite cases were reported from Chandigarh, the figure was 3,785 in 2011. Even the number of stray dogs has gone up to 7,847. Worse still, 25 dog bite cases are being reported every day at the Sector-19 civil dispensary, the only rabies clinic in the city. Despite the worrying situation, the civic body continues to bark up the wrong tree.

In a survey conducted by the animal husbandry department recently, 7,847 stray dogs were found in the city, whereas in a similar survey conducted in 2007, there were 5,700 stray dogs.

Dr Poorima Saigal, medical officer, Sector-19 civil dispensary, admitted that the number of dog bite cases is on the rise in the city. "Of the total dog bite cases, nearly 80% cases were of stray canines and 20% were those caused by pets. Since we have started providing vaccination at a subsidised rate, more cases are being reported," she said.

Nominated councillor Maj DS Sandhu (retd), who has raised the issue in the House several times, said, "The MC has failed to tackle the menace as population of stray dogs is growing very fast and sterilisation has not been effective at all. I have even suggested in the House to take one sector at a time for sterilising dogs. It was also proposed that a collar be put around the neck of a sterlised dog to tell it from others, but we do not see even one dog with the identification mark."

Stray dogs sector wise
Sector 22 347
Sector 19 333
Sector 12 270
Sector 15 268
Sector 20 193
In villages and colonies
Manimajra 515
Maloya village 289
Dadumajra 228
Dhanas 239

Number of pets
Sector 38 294
Sector 21 253
Sector 8 248
Sector 20 239
Sector 22 230
Sector 9 211

Where to lodge complaint
Dr MS Kamboj, superintendent, slaughterhouse 98725-11260
Vikram Singh, dog-catcher 991571-1485
Online complaint can be lodged at www.mcchandigarh.nic.in or osd_mcc@chdut.nic.in