PUNE: The
harassed residents of Gurunanak Nagar on Shankarsheth Road here have approached
the Bombay High Court against the Clandestine Animal Shelter Mission Possible
that has made life hell for the people in the vicinity.
The HC has admitted the plea filed by the irate residents that
asked for immediate relocation of the shelter and action by the civic body. Advocate
Ashutosh Srivastav, the lawyer appearing for the residents of the area,
informed about the development in the press conference today.
Speaking about the development, Srivastav said, “The conflict
is centred on Mission Possible, a shelter for dogs and cats in a residential
neighbourhood at Gurunanak Nagar on Shankarsheth road. Both the health
department and encroachment department of Pune Municipal Corporation have admitted
that this shelter is an illegal one. The organization is registered as a
charitable trust and claims to be moving soon to a land in Saswad, provided by
Amarsingh Jadhavrao but is not moving for the last five years.”
“The reason we have approached the Bombay HC is that Dr.
Kasbekar has already filed a petition against Pune Municipal Corporation in HC
asking a stay on the demolition of the center. The period of the stay was to
end on June 28 th and we have filed a plaint asking the Hon. HC to make us a
party in the said petition and the court has admitted the same request,” added Srivastav.
The property where the shelter is currently situated is owned
by Padmini Stump and it is run by Stump, along with Dr Ravi Kasbekar, an Oncologist,
and four to five workers, who live on the premises. The shelter claims to cater
to abandoned, injured, sick, abused or maggot-infected dogs and cats and
provide a place to live. However, it has caused much nuisance and agony to the residents
living here, many of whom have abandoned their prime properties because of the
menace of these animals.
The problems of the residents range from dead animals being
buried in the premise of the bungalow, suffering from mosquito-borne viral
infections caused by the dirty water from the shelter and the filth left behind
by stray dogs, having to bear with the stink and filth from the infected
animals, the animals’ hair being cut and burnt in front of their kitchen, the
animals howling in the dead of the night and giving sleepless nights to them
etc.
Parikh said, “The responsibility of keeping the spaces clean
lies with Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), however it has shunned the
responsibility leaving the residents in the lurch. We tried to approach the
police but they also expressed their helplessness in the matter.”
Kalra said,
“The carcasses of the dead animals are left in the open at times that puts the hygiene
of the area in jeopardy. The residents are frequenting Khadak Police Station
and PMC, leaving their duties aside, to get justice in the matter. We demand
that this shelter be relocated as soon as possible to the planned site in
Saswad and strict action be taken against the PMC officials who have avoided
their duty.”
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