Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Mar 2: A registration/awareness camp was organized at Chetak Bhawan, Katra today by the newly constituted unit of Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
The Registration Cards were distributed by Dr Piyush Singla, Additional CEO, SMVDSB and Anil Chandel, SDM, Katra in the presence of Dr Arvind Karwani and Amit Vermani, Dy CEOs, SMVDSB under an Action Plan for Management of Equines and Regulation of Pithoos/Palkimen on the track leading to the Holy Cave Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji as per the directions of the National Green Tribunal.
While speaking on the occasion, Dr Piyush Singla informed that till now, blood samples of 4784 equines have been collected and police verification of 2204 Pony owners/Palkimen and Pithoos has been received by the SPCA, Katra Unit.
It is pertinent to mention that after outbreak of zoonatic and highly contagious disease of Glanders this year, Katra has been notified as ‘Controlled Area’ under the Infectious and Contagious Disease in Animal Act and the district administration and Animal Husbandry Department started taking necessary measures for controlling it under active cooperation of SMVDSB.
Later, a case has been filed before NGT Delhi by one Animal Rights activist for controlling and regulating the movement of horses/mules in Katra and surrounding area including track leading to the Holy Cave Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji. NGT accordingly issued certain directions and asked various agencies for their urgent implementation. Following this, the SPCA, Reasi (Katra Unit) started registering the horses/ ponies/mules working in Katra area.
The Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Katra, who is also Secretary of SPCA, Katra Unit, briefed about the importance and mandatory requirement of registration with SPCA which looks after various animal welfare activities including controlling of zoonatic diseases such as Glanders.
On the occasion, SDM, Katra demonstrated hassle free and simple registration method under one roof at Chetak Bhawan,
The registration awareness camp was attended by nearly 500 Pony owners/Pithoos and Palkimen.
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