Amritsar: The Amritsar municipal corporation has decided to constitute an ‘Amritsar Citizens Environment Committee’ to work for the protection of the environment, as well as the welfare of dogs and other animals.The decision was taken in a meeting held by the MC officials with dog lovers and environmental activists to deliberate on issues related to animal welfare, particularly stray dogs, and environmental protection in the city.After the meeting, additional commissioner, Amritsar MC, Surinder Singh informed that it was unanimously decided to constitute a committee – Amritsar Citizens Environment Committee – which would work for the protection of the environment, as well as the welfare of dogs and other animals.During the meeting, participants emphasised the need to ensure the welfare of stray dogs and suggested creation of at least five designated feeding points in each ward of the city.The meeting was attended by cattle pond in-charge Geetu Sareen, R D Sharma, Deepak Babbar and several environment activists and dog lovers from the city.Surinder Singh informed that an animal shelter project, in coordination with the SPCA, was currently underway. This project, he said, was aimed at the welfare and protection of all types of animals.He further said an MC official recently visited a dog sanctuary in Ludhiana to study best practices and measures required for the effective welfare of dogs in Amritsar.The additional commissioner also informed that a toll-free helpline number 1800-180-3291 was activated, which would function from 9 am to 5 pm on all working days, enabling citizens to lodge complaints related to dogs and other animals, while claiming that dog sterilisation work was already in progress at the designated centres to control the stray dog population in a humane manner.MSID:: 127863579 413 |
