Gaps in dog control plan exposed:20,000 bite cases annually, ₹4cr spent, yet half of stray remain unvaccinated

The city’s efforts to control the stray dog population have come under scrutiny, with glaring gaps between planning and execution. Despite allocating ₹4 crore this year, nearly 50% of stray dogs are expected to remain unvaccinated, raising concerns over public safety. Only half the target achievable The Municipal Corporation has floated tenders worth ₹4 crore to manage stray dogs. However, due to limited resources, only 30,000 dogs can be vaccinated, while the estimated requirement is around 60,000. As a result, more than half of the stray dog population will remain outside the vaccination net. Sterilization plan still incomplete A plan to set up four sterilization centres in 2021–22 remains unfinished. Targets missed for three consecutive years The corporation’s past performance has also been disappointing: Despite spending, half of the dog population remains unprotected. Cost per dog increases to ₹1,400 Financial analysis shows rising costs: Outdated data, rising population According to Municipal Corporation estimates, Bhopal has around 1.25 lakh stray dogs, based on the 2019 animal census. Officials believe the current number is likely higher. Each year, only 20,000 to 24,000 dogs are captured, limiting the effectiveness of the campaign. Severe shortage of ABC centres As per guidelines of the Animal Welfare Board of India, every district headquarters should have at least one Animal Birth Control (ABC) centre. Capacity constraints slow down operations The combined capacity of the city’s three centres is just 750 dogs. After vaccination or sterilization, each dog must be kept for five days, creating a bottleneck and slowing down the entire process. Limited facilities for critical cases The ‘Aasra’ animal hospital, meant for sick and aggressive dogs, can accommodate only 30 dogs at a time, making it difficult to handle serious cases. Additionally, there is a shortage of veterinary doctors, further straining the system. Rising dog bite cases, limited control Municipal records show around 20,000 dog bite cases annually in the city. However, due to regulations: This makes long-term control of aggressive dogs challenging. New agency to be selected Additional Commissioner Harshit Tiwari said that the current agencies handling vaccination at ABC centres will complete their contracts in April. New tenders have been issued to appoint agencies, following Animal Welfare Board of India guidelines. The target remains to vaccinate 30,000 stray dogs within a year. Concerns over public safety and planning The mismatch between budget allocation, infrastructure, and execution capacity has raised serious concerns. With thousands of dog bite cases reported annually, experts warn that incomplete vaccination coverage could pose ongoing public health risks.