The fear of stray dogs on the streets of Bhopal has reached a critical point, severely impacting the daily lives of residents. According to the latest municipal data, approximately 1.20 lakh stray dogs are roaming within the capital’s limits. The severity of the situation is evident from the fact that an average of 81 people are falling victim to dog bites every day, requiring emergency hospital care. This crisis poses a major threat, particularly to school children, women, and the elderly. The concentration of strays in sensitive areas such as schools, hospitals, and railway stations has turned the city’s evenings into a time of constant fear. Although the Supreme Court issued clear directives to remove stray dogs from public spaces and ensure proper shelter arrangements, the efforts of the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) have remained limited to paperwork. The reality is that there is not a single fully functional dog shelter home in the city. Last year, the administration made a significant claim to identify 810 locations as ‘no-dog zones,’ but the lack of shelters made it impossible for the municipal body to relocate the animals. Shifting dogs without proper facilities only moves the problem from one neighbourhood to another, failing to provide any concrete resolution. Despite spending a substantial amount of Rs 8.56 crore over the last five years on sterilisation and vaccination, the situation has only worsened.

 

The municipal corporation claims to have vaccinated 81,207 dogs during this period, yet the impact on the ground remains negligible. On average, 15 new complaints are registered on the corporation’s helpline daily. It is concerning that while expenditure on stray dog management increases annually, the number of dog bite cases continues to rise instead of decreasing. The municipal corporation currently operates only three Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres in Arwaliya, Adampur Chhawani and Kajlikheda. These centres have a combined capacity of only 600 dogs, which is woefully inadequate compared to the massive population of 1.20 lakh. These facilities currently only provide sterilisation, whereas Supreme Court orders necessitate permanent shelter homes where these animals can be maintained. Numerous densely populated areas of the city have become hubs for stray dogs, especially after dark. Prominent regions facing this issue include Ashoka Garden, Ayodhya Bypass, Piplani, Kohefiza, Shahjahanabad, Karond, Minal, Patel Nagar, Chhola, Bairagarh, and the Railway Station area. The occupation of footpaths by packs of dogs makes it dangerous for pedestrians and two-wheeler riders to navigate these areas.

 

Accidents caused by dogs biting or chasing commuters have become common in the stillness of the night. Municipal Commissioner Sanskruti Jain stated that land has been identified on the outskirts of the city for the construction of dog shelters. She acknowledged that, for the time being, sterilisation and vaccination work is continuing through the three existing ABC centres.