Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan reviews implementation of Supreme Court directions on stray dogs and cattle, issues strict instructions to departments for public safety.
Dehradun.
Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan on Thursday held a high-level meeting at the Secretariat with concerned departments to review compliance with the Supreme Court’s directions regarding the management of stray animals. He instructed officials to ensure prompt and appropriate action in accordance with the Court’s orders, particularly to remove stray dogs and cattle from public places and crowded areas.
The Chief Secretary directed all concerned departments to appoint area-wise nodal officers for effective monitoring and coordination. Emphasising urban safety, he said that special attention must be given to major cities such as Dehradun, Haridwar, Rudrapur and Kashipur to ensure strict compliance with the Supreme Court’s directives on stray dogs. He warned that negligence at any level would not be tolerated.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary also reviewed the action taken to prevent the movement of stray dogs and cattle on national highways. He instructed officials to identify accident-prone and critical locations and take priority-based measures to minimise risks to commuters.
To address the issue of stray cattle, the Chief Secretary directed the authorities to establish Kanji Houses (cattle shelters) and ensure proper operational arrangements for their effective functioning. He stressed that public safety and animal welfare must go hand in hand.
The Secretary, Transport, was instructed to ensure that stray animals and cattle are removed from bus stations, railway stations and surrounding areas, in coordination with local bodies, to safeguard passengers and maintain smooth traffic movement.
The Chief Secretary also called for the launch of awareness programmes to encourage local residents to adopt stray animals. In addition, he directed that a ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) be prepared for pet owners to promote responsible pet ownership.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Nitesh Kumar Jha, Dr R. Rajesh Kumar, Dr Pankaj Kumar Pandey, Additional Secretary Vineet Kumar, along with other senior officials.
