Principal Secretary Animal, Sheep and Fisheries and Transport Department, Dr. Asghar Hassan Samoon, today inaugurated Animal Birth Control and Anti Rabies Project here at Tengpora.As a major initiative to control the dog population in the Srinagar city, 60 dogs will be sterilized every day at the facility which is estimated to cover entire population of 48000 dogs in two years. The Department is already running two dog sterilization facilities with a capacity of 10 sterilizations at GawKadal, 15 sterilizations at Shuhama.After inauguration of the facility, a live sterilization was conducted by the doctors of Animal Husbandry Department.Dr Samoon also had a tour of the facility during which he directed the officers to stock essential medicines, surgery equipments besides ensuring availability of veterinarians with specialization in surgery.He also asked the officers for tagging the sterilized dogs after keeping them in post-operative care facility.Commissioner SMC Khurshed Ahmed Sanai, Director Animal Husbandry Kashmir Dr. Purnima Mittal and other senior officers of Animal Husbandry and SMC were present on the occasion.Later, Dr. Samoon inaugurated the Central Veterinary Hospital at Athwajan, Srinagar. The facility will augment the animal care treatment in Srinagar city. The facility coming up on modern lines at a cost of Rs 17.27 crore will house drug store, USG/ECG facility, operation theatre, sterilization tech room besides quarters for doctors and staff.He also inaugurate OPD block at Central Veterinary Hospital GawKadal and had detailed review of facilities there including modern surgical instruments, operation theatre and other facilities.During his visit, Dr. Samoon along with Director Animal Husbandry flagged-off the first batch of 25 Mitri candidates(Multi-purpose Technician for Rural India) to Punjab under the centrally-sponsored scheme RashtriyaGokul Mission.These candidates who hail from different parts of Kashmir will augment the efforts of department in artificial insemination.At the last leg of the day-long tour, Dr. Samoon visited the proposed Khimber Sheep farm site. He was accompanied by Director Sheep Husbandry Kashmir Dr Abdul Salam, concerned engineers and other senior officers.Dr Samoon directed for expediting the process of leveling and fencing the Sheep farm site.