Municipal Corporation of Delhi to open own dog sterilisation unit

To check the ever-increasing stray canine population in Delhi before the Commonwealth Games in October, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is planning to open its own dog sterilisation centre in north-west Delhi.

The civic body has already been running dog sterilisation units in collaboration with a number of NGOs but now wants to set up its own independent centre to stabilise the canine population in the capital.

"The increasing number of stray dogs on Delhi roads is a perennial problem. We have been running dog sterilisation campaigns with non-governmental organisations but are now planning a centre which will be run by our veterinary department," municipal commissioner KS Mehra said.

A proposal is being prepared in this regard, he said adding, the cost of the project, capacity of the unit and other such aspects are being worked out.

The civic body has identified 30 acres of MCD land in Mukundpur in north-west Delhi for the centre. The civic agency hopes that it will come up before the Games.

The MCD had said in February that it will open 10 sterilisation units for canines in collaboration with NGOs. The civic agency pays the NGOs Rs445 for sterilising a dog.

Officials said the stray dog population in the city has been increasing despite sterilisation measures. The first-of- its-kind dog census carried out by NGO Wildlife SOS on behalf of MCD last year had put the number of street dogs in the city at 2.62 lakh.

The survey, conducted to work out strategies to deal with the menace, had also found that density of stray dogs is nearly five per km.

The MCD has set a target of achieving 70% sterilisation before the city hosts the mega sporting event in October this year.

To curb straying of dogs in runways, the authorities of Indira Gandhi International Airport has also decided to approach the MCD.

In a recent meeting, the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) had decided to ask MCD to provide them a dog catching van twice a week and look into the possibility of opening a dog sterilisation centre near the airport.

"If they approach us, we will have no problem in opening such an unit near the airport," Mehra said.