The Maharashtra Government has directed all Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats to earmark designated spots for feeding stray dogs and ensure that the canines are fed at those locations only. The directives were issued as part of a comprehensive effort to tackle the growing stray dog menace and reduce human-animal conflict. The directions have been issued through a Government Resolution (GR) dated July 8 by the Urban Development Department, following a series of orders passed by the Supreme Court in its suo motu case on stray dogs. The GR makes it mandatory for urban local bodies to identify fixed feeding locations and ensure that stray dogs are not fed elsewhere. It also directs authorities to initiate action against those violating the prescribed rules. The officials not implimenting the regulations may also face action. In Nagpur, the process has already begun. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has identified 16 feeding spots across the city and after reciving Contd from page 1 suggestions from citizens for additional locations.

 

The civic body has received around 25 applications, which are currently under scrutiny before final approval. The Government said the Supreme Court has treated the issue with utmost seriousness in view of increasing incidents involving stray dogs and the need to balance animal welfare with public safety. The circular has been issued in consultation with the Animal Husbandry Department, the nodal agency for implementing the

 

Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023. Apart from regulating feeding, the GR directs all civic bodies to intensify sterilisation, anti-rabies vaccination and deworming of stray dogs. Local bodies have also been instructed to establish shelters, create dedicated helpline numbers for stray dog complaints and conduct awareness campaigns on dog-bite prevention and post-exposure treatment. The Government has further directed that sterilised dogs should not be released inside schools, hospitals and airports. It has also asked civic bodies to remove stray dogs from crowded public places such as educational institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, bus stations and railway stations after sterilisation and vaccination, and shift them to recognised shelters instead of releasing them back at the same location. The GR also calls for strengthening sterilisation centres, expanding veterinary infrastructure and ensuring adequate trained staff. It warns that officers failing to implement Supreme Court directions may face legal action, including contempt of court proceedings, while officials acting in good faith will receive legal protection.