Shortage of anti-rabies vaccines in State

Mumbai, July 18 (UNI) Legislative Assembly Members cutting across party lines highlighted the menace of stray dogs and urged the Government to provide for anti-rabies vaccines.

Minister of State for Animal Husbandry Hassan Mushriff told the House that there were seven lakh stray dogs in the State and six lakh doses of anti-rabbies vaccines were required.

The discussion came up in the House through a calling attention notice by Girish Bapat (BJP).

Some members even pointed out that the Vidhan Bhavan building was also not free of stray dogs. The Minister said the Government has a stock of four lakh doses of anti-rabies vaccines and there was a shortfall of two lakh doses. Speaker Babasaheb Kupekar directed that the shortfall be met in eight days.

Mr Mushriff said six lakh people were bitten by stray dogs in the last five years.

Sudharak Paricharak (NCP) demanded that the stray dogs be caught and released in jungles.

UNI MR MAZ RL PM1807