Rs 19 lakh to leash stray dogs

LUCKNOW: Here is a programme that can wow (bow-wow, if you please) Lucknowites. The Government of India has earmarked Rs 19 lakh for Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) to put a check on the stray dog men Minister''s constituency.
"The first instalment of Rs 9.5 lakh has already been sanctioned. This amount is for distressed dogs and we plan to purchase two ambulances for the canines with this fund," said Dr MA Ansari, chief veterinary officer, LMC.The programme will consist of sterilisation and immunisation of stray dogs, in order to check spread of rabies and control stray dog population, said Dr Ansari. A similar programme for neutering stray dogs started in 2001 came to a standstill due to lack of funds. "In a similar programme chalked out in 2001, we roped in a few non-government organisations (NGOs) and requested the government for grants. But the proposal was turned down," Dr Ansari recollected, adding that this time the government was ensuring that the accountability of money spent was fixed on the officials concerned. "The money has to be spend in the right manner and exclusively for the purpose for which it has been sanctioned," said Dr Ansari.
According to Dr Ansari, the second instalment was solely meant for sterilisation programme and immunisation of canines. "To purchase the vehicles, we need at least Rs 11-12 lakh with government aid and LMC will provide the rest of the amount," Dr Ansari said. "The programme will take off when the first instalment is received by LMC, which is expected sometime around April second week," he said.