BMC to expand sterilisation programme for stray dogs

Mumbai: In an attempt to find a viable solution to the stray dog menace, the BMC has drawn out an action plan to expand its sterilisation programme from 8,000 dogs every year to about 25,000.
The action plan was chalked out after the issue was raised time and again by corporators in the BMC general body meetings. “Presently, there are only five NGOs helping us with the sterilisation programme. We plan to enlist the support of some more NGOs. Moreover, students of the Parel maternity college have agreed to sterilise at least 1,000 dogs per year,’’ said additional municipal commissioner Vijaysinh Patankar.
Patankar added that the drive would be intensified in the western suburbs where the menace is the most. Also on the anvil are plans for a helpline which people can contact in case they want to call for the dog van. The BMC was killing 35,000-odd dogs every year till 1994, when the practice was stopped after the NGOs obtained a stay from the high court. After the HC ordered the civic body to stop killing dogs in 1998, it roped in five NGOs to help control the stray dog population. “Our requests to the BMC to increase the number of NGOs have been turned down in the past. The five NGOs have to sustain on their own resources. Unless they provide us with adequate funds and space, there is no way that the BMC can achieve its set target,’’ said Fizah Shah from In Defence of Dogs, one of the five NGOs working on the sterilisation programme.
Meanwhile, corporators from different parties are persistent in their demands that mercy killing of dogs be allowed. Shiv Sena corporator Bala Sawant has started a signature campaign to enlist the support of at least 3 lakh Mumbaiites, who are in favour of killing of dogs.
Health committee chairperson Yashodhar Phanse said during the next HC hearing on Dec 13, the BMC will place forth its demand to allow mercy killing of dogs. “The BMC has only nine dog vans and as per the HC guidelines we can’t have more than 10 dogs in one van. Recently, we waived off even the nominal fee that the civic hospitals charge for a Rs 600 worth rabies injection resulting in an added burden of Rs 3 crore on the civic exchequer per year. The only way out is to resume killing of stray dogs,’’ said Phanse.