Collector asks officials to submit zonal master plan reports on eco-sensitive zones in Annamayya district within a week
Addressing an inter-departmental coordination meeting, the Collector said that the Penusila Sanctuary covers 185.42 sq. km across Rajampet and Chitvel mandals and Sri Venkateswara National Park (SVNP) is spread over 87.02 sq. km in Obulavaripalle, Railway Kodur, and Chitvel mandals.
The meeting focused on finalising inputs for the master plan to achieve 'environmentally sustainable development' in the twin eco-sensitive wildlife sanctuaries. Mr. Chamakuri said that the State government was committed to formulate the master plan in line with the Supreme Court directives. 'Based on the master plan, we will formulate activities to be prohibited, regulated and promoted within the two sanctuaries,' he said.
Senior forest officials assured the Collector that all departmental submissions would be ready within the timeframe to finalise the legal and strategic components of the Zonal Master Plan.
Earlier, Regional Director of the Centre for Environment and Development, Hyderabad, Dr. K. Jayachandra gave a PowerPoint presentation highlighting key areas and guidelines for preparing the master plan.
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News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Delhi's Stray Dog Mother: Woman, Abandoned By Family, Dedicates Life To The Voiceless
Last Updated: Devi Ji has opened a small space for nearly 70 to 80 stray dogs in New Delhi, along with a few cats and parrots. The Supreme Court has recently directed officials to clear all stray dogs from the streets and move them into shelters. The decision has triggered debates among animal lovers and activists. While this order has divided opinions, the story of a kind woman from Delhi is touching people's hearts. Known as Devi Ji, she has opened a small space for nearly 70 to 80 stray dogs, along with a few cats and parrots. Despite having very little, she chooses to dedicate her life to these voiceless beings, feeding and protecting them every day. What makes her journey even more moving is her personal struggle. After losing her husband, her own children walked away and left her alone. Yet, instead of giving up, she found comfort in caring for abandoned animals. Recently, her story was shared by a popular influencer, Neetu Bisht, and it has quickly caught everyone's attention. Along with her story, a donation link and address were provided so that people can contribute in any way they wish. The influencer said, 'Her children left them after her husband passed away. Hearing this brought tears to my eyes. Meet Devi Ji, who takes care of 70–80 dogs in a small shelter. I had come to Delhi. On the way, I noticed many dogs gathered in one place. I wondered where these dogs were living. After asking around, I found out about Devi Ji, who looks after them. Along with the dogs, she also cares for cats, parrots and many other animals." Social Media Users Praise Devi Ji's Golden Heart Reacting to the post, a user wrote, 'Earlier I was scared of dogs, thinking they'd bite… but after adopting my pet, I learned they never bite unless they feel their life's in danger…Even street dogs just come close for love, not to harm. This changed my heart completely. Almost all my reels are now about these innocent souls… do check them, you'll feel the love too." Another shared, 'Thank you for sharing so much love and awareness. And I really wish to Visit her." 'Wish everyone had a heart like Devi mam and you ma'am," a comment read. Another mentioned, 'This is called peace. This woman has a golden heart." One more added, 'Influencers like you are needed." The apex Court asked the stray dogs to be placed in cages due to the rising cases of stray dog attacks on children in Delhi. Some of these incidents were severe, which pushed the court to address the matter urgently. Buzz Staff A team of writers at bring you stories on what's creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google, News18's viral page features trending stories, videos, and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments First Published: News viral Delhi's Stray Dog Mother: Woman, Abandoned By Family, Dedicates Life To The Voiceless Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Mint
4 hours ago
- Mint
A childhood without pets, and the strays who filled that gap
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But one afternoon, I came home to devastating news: one of the puppies had been run over by a car. I was heartbroken. I cried. Yet, that same day, I gathered the courage to talk to my mom. At first, she was visibly unhappy to learn I'd been spending time with strays. But something must have clicked—maybe she saw how much it meant to me—because she told me to make a small shelter for them outside our home. With bricks and cardboard, I built a little kennel. It wasn't perfect, but it kept the mother and her babies safe for a while. The odds weren't kind—lack of medical care, harsh weather, and careless drivers meant only one puppy survived. But for those few months, 11-year-old me tried, against all odds, to give them a home. And in that process, I learned what it truly meant when people say dogs are a man's best friend. Yes, they can be defensive and even aggressive when threatened—but in most cases, they're just loyal protectors, asking for little in return. 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Exports, jobs, growth—hit. But is it all bad news? Not quite. The US takes 20% of India's exports—more than our next three partners combined—making us vulnerable to policy swings. Now, there's a push to tap Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. 'Friend-shored' FDI from nations like Vietnam and the UAE is flowing in, positioning India as a South Asia-Africa export hub. Add RBI's low-rate cushion and fiscal space for MSME support, and the picture shifts. Russian oil at throwaway prices once had India hooked, but now the discounts are fading, tariffs are biting, and Washington isn't happy. With Trump slapping an additional 25% duty on Indian goods for buying Russian crude, state-run refiners are eyeing a pivot—more barrels from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq could soon flow into our ports. But will West Asia's non-discounted rates pinch the pocket? Or can India's bargaining power—spread across 40 supplier nations—turn this into a win-win? 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For satcom providers, it's a billion-dollar opportunity; for India, it's about gaining an edge in modern warfare. That's all for this week. I hope you have a pleasant weekend! If you have feedback, want to discuss food, movies and shows or have anything else to say about our journalism, write to me at or reply to this email. You can also write to feedback@
The Print
a day ago
- The Print
SC's stray dog order fails Delhi. Courtroom absolutes don't solve bad policy
The problem is real—even if much of the debate refuses to admit it. Many activists, whether driven by deep affection for dogs or simply insulated from the realities of India's streets, often dismiss these concerns outright. But their distance doesn't erase the risk. I still remember being chased by a stray dog on my way to the gym—managing to protect myself only because I happened to be carrying an umbrella. Yes, it's true that in many places, communities do coexist with stray dogs, and some even care for them. Dogs often recognise familiar residents and respond with calmness. But that recognition doesn't always extend to outsiders. I've seen how anyone unfamiliar—a delivery worker, a visitor, a passer-by can suddenly become a target. From a distance, the stray dog issue might appear to be just another matter of urban policy. But for the average Indian, it shapes daily life in far more visceral ways. According to the 2019 Livestock Census, India is home to over 1.5 crore stray dogs—creating one of the most densely entangled human-canine landscapes in the world. The country also accounts for 36 per cent of global rabies deaths. There are multiple cases of small babies being mauled to death by stray dogs in India. In Delhi alone, over 35,000 animal bite incidents were recorded between January and June 2025. These numbers offer only a partial picture. They don't fully convey what it means to navigate a street where safety feels negotiable, or how vulnerable one can feel—especially as a child, an elder, or someone walking alone—in a city that has outsourced its responsibility to coexistence without offering protection. Public response against the Supreme Court's order to relocate Delhi-NCR's stray dogs to shelters has already settled into the familiar shape of division. Most people seem to fall neatly into two camps—those who view the court's order as overdue action against a growing health threat, and those who see it as an attack on the basic dignity of animals. Even Rahul Gandhi has weighed in, calling the move 'a step back from decades of humane policy.' But like most public debates in India, the noise has overtaken the nuance. What's at stake isn't just whether stray dogs belong on the street—it's what kind of country responds to deep, systemic neglect with courtroom absolutes. What's needed now is a policy-based solution. The situation cannot remain suspended between denial and inaction—it has already cost lives. According to the World Health Organization, the true burden of rabies in India is not fully known, but estimates suggest between 18,000 and 20,000 deaths each year. The economic toll runs parallel. The average cost of post-exposure prophylaxis for rabies is over Rs 5,000 per case, a figure that places enormous strain on families and an already overburdened public health system. In some places, the absence of institutional response has led to a dangerous alternative of vigilante violence, with individuals killing stray dogs. And yet, the crisis cuts both ways. India's streets are also home to countless stray animals living in chronic neglect—underfed, injured, and exposed to disease. This is as much an animal welfare emergency as it is a public safety one. What we're left with is a city that fails both its people and its animals. Also read: Dogs matter more to Indian middle class than people Failure of governance Allowing stray dogs to continue living unregulated on India's streets is no longer a viable option—not for public health, and not for the animals themselves. A national approach to stray dog management is urgently needed. On that front, I agree with many animal rights advocates: The voiceless should not be subjected to solutions that amount to cruelty in the name of order. The Supreme Court's directive to relocate all strays within eight weeks is not just unrealistic, it borders on the inhumane. The order also seems to disregard existing law that permits sterilised dogs to be returned to their localities. A plan built around urgency rather than feasibility is unlikely to solve the problem it claims to address. Shelters have a role, but long-term solutions must confront root causes: Irresponsible pet ownership, lack of sterilisation services, and underfunded municipal systems. If this process is to mean anything, it must be implemented not just with resolve, but with timelines grounded in what's possible—not what simply looks decisive. In India, many who call themselves dog lovers often seem more invested in the idea of dogs than in the actual care they require. Behind the declarations of affection, there is often little regard for regulation, training, or responsibility. And it's not uncommon to see pet ownership tied to aspiration—with a preference for imported breeds over adoption from shelters. This disconnect isn't just social— it's built into the legal frameworks too. In India, a dog that bites is typically isolated for ten days to check for rabies. If it survives, it's vaccinated and returned. In the UK, by contrast, a dog that threatens or harms a person can be seized, its owner prosecuted, and in some cases, the animal put down. These are not small differences—they reveal how regulation, when absent or unclear, shifts the burden of danger onto the public, while also failing the animals themselves. In the end, a city that cannot protect either its people or its animals isn't just failing at compassion—it's failing to govern at all. And no courtroom directive can fix that unless it's matched with policy, accountability, and the political will to implement both. Amana Begam Ansari is a columnist, writer, and TV news panellist. She runs a weekly YouTube show called 'India This Week by Amana and Khalid'. She tweets @Amana_Ansari. Views are personal. (Edited by Theres Sudeep)
