Lucknow, Aug 12 (UNI) The issue of the growing threat posed by stray dogs across Uttar Pradesh was forcefully raised in the Legislative Council by members Dinesh Kumar Goyal and Vijay Bahadur Pathak, under Rule-110, demanding urgent intervention from the state authorities.
Stray dog attacks have surged alarmingly in both urban and rural parts of the state, with citizens, especially children and the elderly, living in constant fear. Despite being tasked with controlling the situation, municipal corporations, local bodies, and the health department have been largely ineffective in addressing the crisis.
Residential societies in major cities, once considered secure living spaces, are now witnessing packs of stray dogs settling within their premises. With the increasing population of strays, incidents of aggressive behaviour and intra-pack violence have also escalated, contributing further to the public safety hazard.
The data presented in the Council paints a grim picture. In 2024 alone: Meerut reported 60,000 dog bite cases, Amroha: 61,000 cases, Moradabad: 49,000 cases, Pilibhit: 48,000 cases, Ballia: 43,000 cases.
In Lucknow, over 4,000 individuals received anti-rabies injections in June 2024 alone at three major hospitals—Balrampur, Civil, and Lokbandhu. Over 30% of the victims were children. Statewide, more than 10,000 people per day are reportedly impacted by stray dog bites.
The legislators highlighted that the state’s sterilisation campaigns have failed to control the stray population effectively. Legal restrictions permit only sterilisation—not culling—of stray dogs, which limits the scope of interventions.
Further compounding the problem is the risk of rabies, a deadly disease that spreads through dog bites. The presence of large, aggressive packs in streets, parks, and even residential complexes poses a continuous threat to public health and safety.
Calling the situation a matter of "immediate public importance", the members urged the government to take strong and effective measures without delay to ensure the safety of citizens. They stressed that this is not only a public health concern but also a question of the right to live without fear.
UNI PRI ARN