The Forum for Good Governance (FGG) members met with Dana Kishore, the Principal Secretary of Municipal Administration, on Monday. They submitted a letter about the stray dog problem in Hyderabad and offered several suggestions to address the issue.
The FGG members highlighted that the stray dog menace is a significant problem in Telangana, especially within the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits. According to a GHMC survey, there are nearly four lakh stray dogs roaming in Hyderabad. Despite efforts like sterilisation programmes, the problem persists. It is distressing to see children being attacked by these stray dogs.
Padmanabha Reddy, president of FGG, proposed several measures to tackle the issue. He mentioned that stray dogs on the streets have no owners and referred to Section 249 of the GHMC Act, which allows for the destruction of stray dogs. He criticized the GHMC’s sterilisation efforts, calling their claim of sterilising over 3 lakh stray dogs exaggerated.
Reddy also suggested that residents should stop feeding stray dogs. He urged the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA and UD) department to prioritize human safety over the welfare of stray dogs and implement more effective solutions.