Chandigarh, May 1
Punjab Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora on Friday directed civic authorities across the state to take immediate and coordinated steps to tackle the growing stray dog problem.
Sanjeev Arora, who holds the industries, commerce, investment promotion, power and local government portfolios, described the issue as a serious threat to public safety and health.
He said the rising number of stray dogs in urban and semi-urban areas was affecting daily life, with complaints of dog bites, attacks on children and elderly people, and aggressive packs roaming residential neighbourhoods.
The minister warned that dog bites could lead to dangerous diseases such as Rabies. He also said stray dogs chasing pedestrians, schoolchildren and two-wheeler riders had caused accidents and injuries.
Sanjeev Arora said the unchecked increase in stray dog numbers was linked to inadequate sterilisation programmes and poor waste management, with open garbage dumps providing easy food sources.
He ordered Municipal Corporation Commissioners and Additional Deputy Commissioners to begin urgent action, including expanding sterilisation drives, mass vaccination campaigns, improving shelters for injured or aggressive dogs, and strengthening waste disposal systems.
District and city-level monitoring teams are also to be formed, alongside public awareness campaigns on safe behaviour around stray animals and responsible waste disposal.
The minister said all measures must follow animal welfare norms while keeping public safety as the top priority.
Officials have been asked to submit detailed action-taken reports within seven days.
Sanjeev Arora said the Punjab Government was committed to creating safe, hygienic and citizen-friendly urban areas, adding that no laxity would be tolerated.
