Issue of Stray Dogs

• 23 Feb 2013


• Hindustan Times (Mumbai)

• Megha Pol megha.pol@hindustantimes.com



Stray dogs in city up by 20,000 in 5 yrs

Amidst sterilisation work, number of stray dogs has gone up from 20,000 in 2008 to 40,000 in 2013 in city

THANE: With the increase in population of the city, the population of stray dogs has also increased over the years. The number of stray dogs in the city has gone up from 20,000 in 2008 to 40,000 in 2013. This increase raises a question mark on the effectiveness on corporation’s stray dog sterilisation system. The residents on the other hand have to bear the increasing menace of stray dogs in the city. Dogs chasing the bikers or cyclist or barking throughout the night are common. Residents also complained that the stray dogs deface the premises of the society.


The population of stray dogs in Thane city is now approximately 2 to 3 per cent of the total human population.

Satyajit Shah, a resident of Hyde Park, said, “Many residents of our society are bitten by these strays. Recently, a woman from our society was travelling pillion with her husband when a dog chased them. When her husband decreased the speed of the bike to discourage the stray, it bit the women on the legs. These incidents have become common in the last few years.”

He said that the dogs bark during the night giving people sleepless nights. “Many small children and senior citizens are bitten by the stray who are susceptible to infections. The senior residents are incapable of running when troubled by a dog. Children at times do not alert their parents of a dog bite fearing their wrath. This could lead to serious infection in them.”

Shah expressed that the only solution for this is for the dog lovers should stop feeding them while the corporation should build dog shelters to care for these strays.

Aruna Vichare, a resident of Kalwa, said, “I return home late owing to my office timings. I am scared to go home as stray dogs are barking every where on the road. They look so ferocious that they may attack me,”

The corporation, however, claimed that they are doing their bit. TMC’s website claims to receive three to four complains of stray dogs everyday. “There are more than 40,000 dogs in the city out of which we have sterilised 38,769 dogs till February 13. The TMC sterilises 10 to 20 dogs daily. We have one dog centre and 60 cages. The cost of sterilisation of one dag is Rs.740,” said Sandeep Malvi, TMC PRO.

ThanX giving Ceremony

ThanX giving Ceremony

As you are aware that because of the Supreme Court’s Verdict on 14th Dec. 2012 , Parshvanath College of Engg. , Thane was closed from end of Dec. 2012.

This college faced various issues in the last 3 to 4 years including following :

- Various irregularities at the time of old trusty.

- Transfer of college from the old building to a new building.

- Transfer of trustees .

- Various other small , big issues till closure of the college.

- Various legal fights from the lower courts till Supreme Court.

Various press reporters regularly took this issues to the readers and for the same as a parent of a SON, I am very much obliged to all our press reporter friends.

You may be aware that in the verdict, Supreme court directed AICTE and DTE to transfer all students of Parshvanath Engg. Colleges to other colleges.


Accordingly DTE ( Directorate of Technical Education , Maharashtra State , Mumbai ) forwarded letter to Parshvanath College of Engineering to forward list of students of 2nd, 3rd and 4th year . And DTE transferred students of 2nd, 3rd, & 4th year students.


DTE informed college that students of 1st year will not be transferred as admissions of 1st year students were illegal.

DTE told few parents ( of 1st year students ) like me who contacted them that , one year of 1st year students will be wasted.

I would like to inform you that at the time of taking admissions in July, 2012, name of Parshvanath College of Engg. Was very much mentioned in the Brochure of DTE – 2012 which was released by them for CAP round .

Also note that for the 1st Sem. Exams, Mumbai University had given Admit Cards as well as exam of 1st semester was conducted by Mumbai University. Which was clear the admissions of 1st year students were not illegal.

As a parent of my SON – Sumedh – 1st year Mech. Engg. , I approached Shri. Sanjay Kelkarji – Ex-MLC – Maharashtra State seeking his help in this issue. He did lot of follow up with AICTE – Mumbai office, DTE , Shri. Mahajan – Director of DTE. But nothing moved.


Ultimately he took a delegation of parents and students ( I was also there in that delegation ) to Shri. Rajesh Tope – Minister of Technical Education . Briefed him, shown all documentary evidence. In front of us Shril Topeji, spoke with Mr. Mahajan – Director of DTE and later on spoke with Mr. Mantha – Chairman of AICTE and informed them to proceed with the transfer of 1st year students ( approx. 129 students ) .

Ultimately all students of Parshvanath got transferred to various colleges as per their 4 choices as per the transfer form given by DTE.

Now all students are attending their newly transferred colleges.

I would like to inform you that Thane was till date having only two colleges. One of these two is now closed. But unfortunately neither a single famous Political figure tried to save Parshvanath College of Engg. From getting closed nor helped students of 1st year of engg. When DTE refused to transfer them.

You will also agree that in INDIA , people rarely appreciate others who help them in various issues.


In this issue as Shri. Sanjay Kelkarji helped in saving college from getting closed as well as helped parents like us when DTE refused to transfer 1st year students.

I always believe in real appreciation. Accordingly my self with my SON SUMEDH, Mr. Milind Nagraj – A Parent of Saurabh Nagraj , and Mr. Sunil Gandhi – with his SON Viraj, visited office of Shri. Sanjay Kelkarji on 2nd Feb. 2013 to appreciate all his efforts and to say thank you for all his efforts.

We gifted him few books written by Shri. Neelkanth Khadilkar and a SHREEFAL .

With this mail, I have attached a photo of ThanX giving ceremony at office of Shri. Sanjay Kelkarji.

On 2nd Feb. 2013, we also visited house of Shri. Sameer Nanivadekar – PRO of Parshvanath College of ENgg. To say thanks for all his efforts towards saving college and transfer of 1st year students. We gifted him a book “ PRAKASHVATA” with autographs of Dr. Prakash Amteji and Dr. Mandatail Amteji with a SHREEFAL.

Now I will be visiting office of Nava Kal in Girgaum to say Thank you to Mrs. Jayshree Tai Khadilkar Pande – Editor of Nava Kal, who tried her level best to save Parshvanath College of Engg. From getting closed. ( She wrote EDITORIAL which will be sent to your by separate mail. ) Later on also she helped us lot during issue of transfer of 1st year students to other colleges.

I thought of sharing this with you as I strongly feel that everybody should try to appreciate others for their help , support .

Another important thing is the appreciation should be a real appreciation and not a FLATTERY.

Link : http://www.planetthane.com/news/0902201307.htm


Give Credit where Credit is due

By Raghavendra Odeyar

On February 2 a few parents of the first year engineering students of Parshvanath College of Engineering, Kasarvadavali, went to the office of BJP’s ex-MLC, Sanjay Kelkar to express their gratitude for his intervention in helping the students to get admitted in various colleges.

Following the apex court’s order to close the college and admit the affected students in other colleges, DTE (Directorate of Technical Education, Mumbai) sent a letter to Parshvanath College of Engineering to forward the list of students of 2nd, 3rdand 4th year who were subsequently transferred to other colleges. However, DTE informed the college that students of 1st year will not be transferred as their admissions to Parshwanath College were illegal. This would have meant a loss of one year of the 1st year students.

The parents of the affected students challenged the DTE’s diktat. At the time of taking admissions in July, 2012, the name of Parshvanath College of Engineering had figured in DTE’s 2012 brochure, which was released by them for CAP (Centralized Admission Process) round.

Further the 1st year students had received Admit Cards for the first semester examination conducted by the Mumbai University which goes to prove that the admission of 1st year students was not illegal.

One of the aggrieved parents, Satyajit Shah, approached BJP’s ex-MLC, Sanjay Kelkar seeking his help in the matter. Kelkar evinced keen interest in the matter and took up the issue with AICTE and DTE, but unfortunately could not cut ice with the authorities. Undeterred, Kelkar moved a step further. He led a delegation of the affected students and parents to the Minister of Technical Education, Rajesh Tope. The Minister directed Mahajan, Director of DTE and Mantha, Chairman of AICTE to transfer 1st year students to other colleges. Ultimately, all the 1st year students, numbering to 129, got admission in various colleges, as per their choices given in the transfer form. The woes of the students had finally come to an end thanks to the initiative taken by Sanjay Kelkar. “We should give credit where credit is due” said Shah.

Speaking to Planet Thane, Satyajit Shah said, “It is unfortunate that no political heavyweight came forward to rescue Parshvanath College from closing. Nor was there any help forthcoming when the DTE refused to transfer students of 1st year engineering. Only Kelkar stood by us.”

As a gesture of appreciation of Kelkar’s efforts in helping the students, a few parents led by Satyajit Shah, went to the Kelkar’s office on February 2 to express their gratitude. A few books authored by Neelkant Khadilkar were presented to Kelkar together with Shreefal. The parents also thanked Sameer Nanivadekar, PRO of Parshvanath College for all the efforts he made in smooth transfer of the students.

He was presented with a book titled “Prakashvata” autographed by Dr.Prakash Amte and Mandatai Amte. Give Credit where Credit is due.