Civic body’s proposal to sterilise another 20,000 stray dogs await govt approval

Despite sterilising over 20,000 stray dogs under the first phase of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) project, the Amritsar Municipal Corporation Amritsar finds itself grappling with an exploding canine population across the holy city. The civic body’s proposal to sterilise another 20,000 dogs has been awaiting the approval of the government from Chandigarh for months. In the meantime, city streets remain overrun with stray dog packs and cases of dog bites are on the increase.

In August 2023, the Animal Welfare Trust had begun the sterilisation drive through the MC tender, operating from the Animal Birth Control Centres at Nariangarh and Fatehgarh Shukarchak. On average, 25 to 30 dogs were sterilised daily. The first phase, targeting 20,000 canines, has been completed successfully. However, the second phase for another 20,000 dogs has hit a bureaucratic roadblock, as the state authorities have yet to approve it, citing the need for a verified survey on the actual number of stray dogs in the city.

To ensure that the sterilisation project does not come to a complete halt, the Finance and Contract Committee of the MC has taken an interim decision to continue the process for 5,000 additional dogs with the same firm. Each sterilisation costs around Rs 900 per dog.

Yet, the crisis continues to deepen. Civic officials estimate that Amritsar now has over 50,000 stray dogs, far beyond the sterilisation numbers achieved so far. While a citywide survey has been completed, its notification remains pending. Meanwhile, citizens across densely populated localities such as Katra Ahluwalia, Guru Bazaar, Majith Mandi, Kahian Wala Bazaar, Bagh Ramanand, Loon Mandi, Mishri Bazaar and Gha Mandi are reporting frequent dog bite incidents. The situation is equally grim in suburban zones like New Amritsar, Veer Enclave Majitha Road, Fatehgarh Churian Road and Sultanwind Road, where packs of stray dog dominate streets and lanes.

Meanwhile, a two-member inspection team from the Animal Welfare Board of India visited the ABC Centre, Naraingarh, on Wednesday to assess ongoing sterilisation operations. The team reviewed facilities for hygiene, animal care, medical waste disposal, and post-operative recovery standards. They examined the availability of veterinarians, pharmacists, and OT assistants, verified feeding and medication records, and inspected the cages, isolation wards, and CCTV surveillance. The Fatehgarh Shukarchak centre had been inspected earlier.