W Bengal, Delhi, UP most beastly to animals

New Delhi, Mar 27 (UNI) West Bengal tops in cruelty to animals, says a Ministry of Environment and Forests Report.

More than 17,000 cases of beastly behaviour towards the animals were reported from the state during the year 2006-07. During the preceding three years, maximum number of such incidents took place in the state with 40,000 animals reported having faced cruelty.

The national capital stands second followed by Uttar Pradesh in inflicting pain on their animals.

In Delhi, the incidents of cruety were 1389, 1572 and 1826 respectively in the last three years.

During the same period a little less than 4,000 cases of cruelty were reported from Uttar Pradesh. As many as 1541 incidents took place 2004-05, 1296 during 2005-06 and 1127 were reported during 2006-07 in the state.

During the year 2006-07, 255 cases of animal cruelty were reported in Haryana, 79 in Kerala, 71 in Andhra Pradesh and 65 in Chhattisgarh.

The number of persons convicted in this regard was highest in Uttar Pradesh followed by Delhi and West Bengal respectively.

The Government has made provisions to check such incidents. The Preventions of cruelty to animals (PCA) Act, 1960 was enacted by the Central Government to prevent infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering on animals.

Prevention of Cruelty falls in the Concurrent List of the Constitution and hence the appropriate law enforcement machinery are the state government/local authorities.

The Animal welfare Board of India (AWBI), the statutory body under the Ministry of Environment&Forests, addresses all the State Governments to enforce the provisions regarding cruelties to animals and to book the offenders suitably.

UNI NAZ VD RN1928