The city’s municipal corporations are trying to curb the stray dog population after, sources said, the Lieutenant-Governor told the civic bodies to get a handle on the situation.
The corporations have been asked to focus on removing stray dogs from the vicinity of hospitals. “As part of modernisation of the Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Hospital, which includes building a boundary wall, the menace of stray dogs in the area will be addressed,” said North Delhi Municipal Corporation spokesperson Y.S. Mann.
The South Delhi Municipal Corporation is also undertaking a dog sterilisation drive and has initiated the process to procure eight new vans.
SDMC Commissioner Manish Gupta said: “We have engaged the Humane Society International and the Animal Welfare Board of India to help us increase the number of sterilisations. They will conduct a survey to identify the population. For sterilisation, we have tied up with the Delhi Government’s Veterinary Department.”
Mr. Gupta said the civic body currently has the capacity to sterilise 15,000 dogs per month and has set a target of 45,000 for the next three years.
However, the corporation is unable to utilise its existing capacity. “A total of 7,514 dogs were sterilised last year in South Delhi,” said SDMC spokesperson Mukesh Yadav.
According to animal welfare NGOs and municipal officials, around 50 per cent of all stray dogs in Delhi have been sterilised. The number can only be increased with active public participation, say animal rights activists. Sterilisation needs time to work, say NGOs
