Residents of Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation areas are fed up, demand suitable action.
Even as the Pimpri-Chinchwad area is infested with stray dogs, politicians seem to overlook this grave issue while going for the civic polls.
A total of 24,000 dog-bite cases have been reported from the twin town in the last five years. However, little has been done to curb the menace.
The newly developed suburbs like Bhosari, Nigdi, Chinchwad and fringe villages, dominated by professionals and middle class residents, are the most affected areas.
The issue came to the fore in 2008 when a pack of stray dogs killed three-and-a-half-year-old Shrikant Gajanan Chaudhari in Rupinagar, Nigdi. Around 40 people were injured in Chakrapani Vasahat, Hanuman Colony, SBI Colony, Shriram Mandir, Hutatma Chowk, Jai Maharashtra Chowk and Durgamata Chowk areas in Bhosari in the recent past.
Residents, especially senior citizens, feel scared to go outside their homes because of the stray dog menace.
Kishor Kolte, a resident of the area, told DNA, “Dog-biting incidents are regularly reported from this area. With several children being the victims, they are now terrified to play outside. Even senior citizens have stopped their morning walks.”
Rupinagar resident Mohini Pawar said, “Corporators should take proactive steps to curb this menace. Even though the civic administration claims that they are bound by certain limitations to curb the stray dog threat, it is our lives that are in danger.”
In a letter to the health department, independent corporator Maruti Bhapkar stated that the civic dog catching squad operates from 10 am to 5 pm, but is unable to catch most dogs. Packs of stray dogs roam freely at night, when the squad is not active. Bhapkar demanded that the squad also operate during nights.
PCMC veterinary officer Dr Satish Gore said, “We are doing our best, but have to follow the law. We respond to citizens’ complaints.”
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