In a significant move to address public safety concerns, Haryana Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi has issued strict directives for the immediate implementation of Supreme Court orders regarding stray animal management and highway safety across the state.
Comprehensive Plan for Stray Dog Management
Chairing a high-level review meeting in Chandigarh, Rastogi emphasized that all departments, municipal bodies, and district administrations must work with precision, compassion, and complete accountability to meet court-mandated timelines. The chief secretary stressed that coordinated action and rigorous field monitoring are essential for successful implementation.
Municipal bodies and rural local authorities have been instructed to establish large-capacity dog shelters capable of accommodating at least 5,000 animals each. These facilities will be equipped with CCTV surveillance, medical facilities, and trained staff to ensure proper care.
All deputy commissioners have been directed to ensure that sterilisation, vaccination, tagging, and routine veterinary care fully align with the Animal Birth Control Rules. The state government has made adequate catching teams and digital record-keeping systems mandatory for all districts.
24x7 Helplines and Public Awareness Initiatives
Every district and local body will establish 24×7 helplines to address complaints related to stray dogs, dog bites, rescue operations, and animal abandonment. The comprehensive system aims to provide immediate response to public concerns while ensuring animal welfare standards are maintained.
Public awareness initiatives will be launched to encourage responsible interaction with stray animals. Municipalities will demarcate dedicated feeding zones in every ward and collaborate with animal welfare organizations to ensure safe and hygienic feeding practices.
Highway Safety and Stray Cattle Removal
A major focus of the meeting was the urgent need to remove stray cattle from National Highways, state highways, and expressways. Multiple departments including NHAI, PWD (BR), Transport, municipal bodies, and the Animal Husbandry Department have been instructed to conduct continuous joint drives to identify vulnerable stretches and safely capture cattle.
Captured animals will be transported to registered gaushalas or cattle shelters equipped with veterinary care, food, and water. The state is finalizing a comprehensive mechanism to clearly outline responsibilities for identifying, catching, transporting, treating, and housing stray cattle.
All authorities have been directed to deploy round-the-clock highway patrol teams linked to police stations and district control rooms. Helpline numbers will be prominently displayed along highways to enable real-time reporting of stray animal sightings and safety concerns.
Securing Public Institutions
Following Supreme Court directives, deputy commissioners have been instructed to expedite the identification and securing of public institutions including schools, hospitals, sports complexes, bus stands, depots, and railway stations. Each premise must be secured with fencing, functional gates, and necessary structural safeguards.
Commissioner and Secretary of Urban Local Bodies, Vikas Gupta, directed that nodal officers must be appointed in every institution to oversee implementation. Hospitals have been instructed to maintain adequate stocks of anti-rabies vaccines and immunoglobulin, while schools will conduct awareness sessions on animal behavior and first aid.
Sports stadiums will see enhanced vigilance through dedicated personnel, and railway and transport facilities will strengthen waste-management systems to discourage animal habitation in public spaces.
The comprehensive measures represent Haryana's determined effort to balance public safety concerns with animal welfare standards while complying with Supreme Court directives within specified timelines.
