MCD's Stray Dog Control Plan Stalls Despite Supreme Court Affidavit
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has made minimal progress in implementing its proposed measures to address the city's persistent stray dog menace, despite submitting a detailed action plan to the Supreme Court in an affidavit. Key initiatives outlined in the plan are advancing at a sluggish pace, primarily due to a lack of coordination between various departments within the corporation and procedural delays, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Delayed Shelter Construction and Funding Issues
One of the cornerstone projects, a proposed permanent dog shelter in Dwarka designed to house aggressive stray dogs, has not yet commenced construction. Although the MCD commissioner has granted approval for this facility, which is planned to accommodate approximately 1,500 dogs, the public health department has not released the necessary funds. The department has provided no updates on when the funding might be allocated, leaving the project in limbo.
Slow Progress on Sterilization Center Expansion
To enhance its animal birth control (ABC) program, the MCD proposed constructing additional kennels at five ABC centers located in Bijwasan, Bela Road, Usmanpur, and two in Rohini. At the Bela Road center, a project to develop kennels for temporarily housing dogs for two to three days during anti-rabies vaccination administration was finalized. However, construction has not been initiated by the engineering department, despite the public health department allocating the budget for it last year. An official from the veterinary department stated that the goal is to double the capacity to accommodate 1,600 to 1,700 stray dogs post-sterilization.
In contrast, at the Bijwasan center, run by the NGO Friendicoes SECA, the engineering department has recently begun work after a delay of nearly a year. The construction of 14 additional dog kennels is now underway, which will increase the facility's capacity from 550–600 dogs to around 1,100 dogs. This expansion is expected to enable the sterilization and immunization of over 1,000 dogs per month, according to another MCD official.
Incomplete Initiatives and Future Plans
Progress on other components of the plan remains incomplete. The installation of boards at 735 designated dog-feeding points across the city has not been finished. Regarding the microchipping of stray dogs, the veterinary department plans to initiate the tendering process in the current financial year, with Rs 20 crore allocated for this purpose. Previously, funds were primarily directed toward sterilization drives, officials noted.
Historical Coordination Challenges
Sources indicated that such inter-departmental coordination issues are not new within the MCD. Similar delays were observed during efforts to address the pigeon menace in Delhi, where enforcement actions were hampered by a lack of coordination between the veterinary, public health, and sanitation departments. The issue gained attention in June 2025 when a councillor raised concerns about pigeon feeding at public places during a standing committee meeting. The health department then wrote to the veterinary department, highlighting the health risks associated with pigeon droppings.
The veterinary department responded by stating it lacked the legal mandate to act, as pigeons are not classified as community animals under the relevant regulations. It referred the matter to the sanitation or environment management services department, pointing out that the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act empowers it to regulate animals like cattle, dogs, and horses, but does not cover birds such as pigeons. Action was eventually taken in February, when the west and central zones cracked down on pigeon-feeding points.
