Wednesday, 29 September 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
In view of the increasing number of stray cows and bulls in the city, the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) has decided to promote and use embryo transplant technology (ETT) to limit the number of male claves. In the initial phase, the corporation will select about 50 to 100 heifers (young female cows) from places like Kanji House and Gau Sadan for the embryo transplant. This was decided in an executive committee meeting presided over by mayor Sunil Uniyal ‘Gama’ on Tuesday.
In the meeting, the executive members and officials discussed various issues and passed many proposals. The senior veterinary officer of the corporation, Dr DC Tiwari proposed that since most of the stray cattle are male calves that are left by their owners, the corporation can promote embryo transplantation through which birth of a female calf can be ensured too. As an initiative, Tiwari proposed to use ETT on selected heifers in MCD’s cow shelters with the help of the Animal Husbandry department which was agreed by all in the meeting.
On being asked about the increasing number of stray dogs by councillors, Tiwari said that most of the stray dogs in the city are being left by the pet dog owners who own multiple dogs. On this, the mayor directed Tiwari to work on limiting the number of licenses issued to pet owners. He also approved the proposal of making a shelter home for sick and injured stray dogs where they can be treated besides giving his nod for establishing a biogas plant in Kedarpur. He also approved a pilot project of preparing cow dung logs too.
This year, the corporation has invited tenders for the advertisement displays in the city for the financial years 2021-23 for a total of Rs 7,96,16,064. However, the corporation received no response from any organisation considering which, the members approved to lower the rates for the current financial year before inviting tender for the same once again in order to increase revenue generation.
Besides this, ‘Gama’ announced that four groups of councillors will go on four tours of various cities like Indore who are known for their impeccable sanitation work. He said, “The councillors will know through this tour what is being done in these cities at ground level which can be done here to make the sanitation conditions better.”
Meanwhile, some councillors also said that the corporation should start recovering property tax from slum dwellers too who have all the basic facilities and many approach them to deposit their taxes through them too. On this, the officials said that only those slum dwellers will be allowed to submit taxes who pay for the door to door garbage collection service while adding that they must be notified too that it does not validate their encroachments.
