Kolkata: 15 stray dogs die, many missing after KMC sterilization

KOLKATA: Around 15 stray dogs died and a number of them are missing since the Kolkata Municipal Corporation started a massive sterilization or ligation of stray dogs in March this year. And this too, according to a preliminary report prepared by a section of the KMC councillors who have been demanding a detailed probe into the death and ‘mysterious disappearance’ of stray dogs after they were picked up by a civic body’s health department team engaged in sterilization and ligation programme.
Data available from seven KMC wards in south Kolkata and its fringe areas reveal that stray dogs picked up from Dhakuria, Chetla, Netajinagar, Naktala, Patuli, New Garia and Bijoygarh have become victims of ‘carelessness’ of a KMC team of officials who are associated with the sterilization and ligation programme. Though the number of missing dogs from these areas is not known, an estimate prepared by councillors put the number to around 50.
Apart from KMC councillors, residents of large areas of south Kolkata have also been knocking on the doors of the KMC health department top brass to inquire about the missing of stray dogs from their respective localities. Take the case of Anita Chowdhury, a resident of SreeRampore Road near Garia. Chowdhury found two stray dogs missing from near her residence three weeks ago. Chowdhury lodged a complaint with the local Patuli police station as she would look after these dogs. However, the cops referred the case to the KMC health department. Unable to get information about her pet dogs, the homemaker went to a local Trinamool Congress leader and requested him to help her search for the dogs.
Worse happened with stray dogs that were picked up by the KMC health department team from Tollygunge government quarters for sterilization. Out of eight dogs that the civic dog squad collected from this spot, three died and four were returned to the spot in sick condition. Similarly, at Raipur in Layelka area six dogs were picked up for sterilization.
“Of these dogs one died and four were left in the area after they fell ill. When I inquired about the reason of death of the dog, the KMC officials could not give an explanation,” alleged Debasish Mukherjee, the RSP councillor of the area (ward 98).
Mukherjee on Friday submitted a list of death of stray dogs to Atin Ghosh, the member, mayor-in-council overseeing the KMC health department. Mukherjee also smelt a rat in spending funds for sterilization programme.
“We have received a list of about 2600 dogs the KMC health department claims to have brought under the sterilization programme. We have our doubts and demand a ward-wise number of the stray dogs that have been sterilized,” Mukherjee said.
Atin Ghosh said that he had no information about unnatural death of large number of deaths that were picked up for sterilization. “I will definitely seek a report from the health department officials and only then can comment on the issue,” the KMC MMiC on Friday said.
KMC sterilization of stray dogs
Programme started in March
Number of dogs died after being picked up by the civic dog squad: 15
Number of missing dogs: around 50
Areas: Dhakuria, Bijoygarh, Naktala, Chetla, Netajinagar Tollygunge among others.