The Belagavi City Corporation’s attempt to appoint a new agency for stray dog sterilization has failed for the third time, with no bidders responding to tenders, the latest floated in August. With no new contractor in place, the existing agency will continue the work, though a decision on issuing another tender is yet to be taken by the civic health officer and commissioner.
Sterilization in Belagavi has been ongoing since June 2022, currently carried out at a Goshala in Srinagar. Limited infrastructure allows only 8–10 dogs to be sterilized daily, despite surgeries now being conducted six days a week. Earlier disruptions due to pending payments and capacity constraints have further slowed progress.
To scale up efforts, the District Collector has cleared two acres in Hirebagewadi for a modern sterilization centre, which is expected to handle over 100 dogs a day once operational. The existing contractor, whose term ended in June 2023, has been given a two-year extension until a replacement is found and the new facility becomes functional.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has barred feeding stray dogs on roads and public places, directing that it be permitted only in designated feeding zones set up in every municipal ward. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria clarified that dogs caught for vaccination or sterilization must be released at the same spot, except in cases of rabies or aggression.
The Court stated that street feeding causes public inconvenience and safety concerns, warning that violators will face legal action. These directions, initially issued for Delhi-NCR, have now been extended across India, with all States, Union Territories, and municipal bodies ordered to ensure compliance with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules.
