The Supreme Court has ordered to keep stray dogs in dog shelters in Delhi-NCR. Reacting to this, the Delhi Mayor has said that there are no dog shelters in Delhi.
Delhi Mayor Iqbal Singh said, "Delhi residents had many problems with street dogs. There were some obstacles somewhere due to which street dogs were increasing. But, now the Supreme Court's order has come, we will fully implement it and try that after six weeks street dogs are not seen anywhere."
Iqbal Singh said, "We don't have shelter homes, but we can increase the number of 10 sterilization centers. Following the Supreme Court's order, we will immediately build permanent and temporary shelter homes and try to give 100 percent results."
He said, "The corporation and the Delhi government will work well and we will try to ensure that the whole of Delhi does not face any problem due to street dogs."
On Monday, the Supreme Court, expressing concern over the increasing incidents of dog bites and rabies, ordered to keep all the stray dogs of Delhi and NCR in dog shelters. For this, the officials have been given eight weeks' time.
This order of the Supreme Court has been opposed by animal lovers. Animal rights organization PETA India says that removing dogs is neither a scientific method nor will it be a permanent solution to the problem.
Animal rights activists detained
Meanwhile, police detained animal rights activists, rescuers, caregivers, and dog lovers on Monday, who protested in front of the India Gate against the Supreme Court order to send all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to shelters within eight weeks.
"They don't want us to talk. These people are throwing everyone into jail. I am being detained because I do the noble work of feeding animals," said a caregiver of dogs while being detained by the Police for protesting against the SC order.
Earlier on Monday, a bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said that all localities should be made free of stray dogs and there should not be any compromise. It also made it clear that no captured animal will be released back on the streets.
It also ordered contempt proceedings against any individual or organisation that attempts to obstruct the authorities from carrying out the capture drive.
"If any individual or organisation comes in the way of picking stray dogs or rounding them up, we will proceed to take action against any such resistance," said Justice Pardiwala.