Recently, the deputy commissioner of Chandigarh municipal corporation, approved compensation of Rs. 7.77 lakhs for 77 cases of dog bites in the city. If other corporations awarded compensation, the figures would run into crores of rupees.
Indian cities have a huge problem of stray dogs. WHO estimates that India accounts for 36% of global rabies deaths. Municipalities have used a variety of measures to tackle the problem.
- Animal Birth Control (ABC) programs- Sterilisation
- Designated Dog feeding areas
- Reduction in open garbage dump spots.
- Mandatory creche in construction areas
- Take the help of NGOs
The Greater Corporation of Chennai (GCC) has 1.4 lakh stray dogs according to the 2024 dog population survey. Of these only 27% of the dogs were neutered. GCC has 5 ABC centers and is planning to build more.
Bengaluru Municipal Corporation has tied up with hotels association to feed stray dogs, and to establish designated feeding areas. In 2023, the stray dog population was estimated at 2.8 lakh.
Pune which had 1,79,940 stray dogs as of 2023, is working on eliminating open garbage dumps.
Hyderabad has a population of 4 lakh stray dogs. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation spends Rs. 11.5 cr for maintaining 5 animal care centres. GHMC has a helpline to report aggressive dogs in their area. The corporation has made it mandatory to create creche in construction areas where stray dogs are known to attack young children.
Many municipal corporations take the help of NGOs- Lucknow has a stray dog population of 1.16 lakh. The municipal corporation has tied up with Humane Society International in the task of catching, vaccinating, sterilizing and releasing the dogs.