The Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) has initiated a fresh Animal Birth Control (ABC) program to address the growing concern of stray dogs in the city. This comes months after the civic body terminated contracts with previous agencies responsible for vaccination and sterilization efforts.
New Contract Details and Financial Terms
MCG has awarded a new work order to a private firm that will remain effective from Friday until November 28, 2027. The company will receive Rs 700 per dog for sterilization and Rs 250 per dog for vaccination. This marks a significant step in renewing the city's efforts to manage its stray dog population.
MCG Commissioner Pradeep Dahiya emphasized the urgency of this campaign, stating: "The campaign is extremely necessary considering the increasing number of stray dogs in the city and threat of rabies. Our objective is to move forward with animal welfare, public safety, and health — all three together in the city."
Infrastructure Challenges and Previous Setbacks
The initiative faces challenges due to the current state of ABC facilities in the city. A recent investigation revealed that the two primary ABC centers in Baliawas and Basai have been abandoned. The Baliawas center, equipped with 20 kennels, an operation theatre, and post-operative ward, has been locked for over three months.
Similarly, the Basai center with 18 kennels has been inactive for over a year and is currently in a state of disrepair. These facilities have a combined monthly sterilization capacity of 500 dogs, while the city's stray dog population is estimated at approximately 50,000 dogs, though no formal census has been conducted.
Monitoring and Collaborative Efforts
The sterilization and vaccination efforts will be conducted under the supervision of MCG's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ashish Singla. Officials have promised a robust system of monitoring and reporting to maintain transparency and effectiveness throughout the campaign.
In a significant development, MCG signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Anil Agarwal Foundation, the CSR arm of Vedanta Group, on October 28. This partnership will launch a comprehensive animal welfare program with an initial investment of Rs 10 crore.
Under this 15-year agreement, which may be extended for another 15 years, the foundation will manage sterilization and vaccination of stray dogs, operate existing ABC centers in Begampur Khatola and Basai, and expand the network to other areas of the city.
The civic body has initially planned to hire four agencies, one for each city zone, but due to lack of response, revised the tender in October to hire only two agencies for all four zones. The agency awarded the work order on Friday will handle vaccination and sterilization in zones 2 and 3.
MCG officials have underscored this initiative as a crucial step toward ensuring public safety and health while promoting animal welfare. The corporation has also urged residents to cooperate in making the campaign successful and effective in controlling the stray dog population.
