Navi Mumbai: The Animal welfare officer Seema Tank from Navi Mumbai has raised concerns over the alleged detention of sterilized stray dogs by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), claiming the practice may be inconsistent with Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) guidelines and the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules. On Jan 29, Tank submitted a representation to the NMMC commissioner with details of the location where the sterilized stray dogs were detained stating that they were kept in jail-like lock-ups since Jan 9 and that even after one month, she has not received any response from NMMC.Tank said, “Under the ABC Rules and directions issued by the Supreme Court, healthy, vaccinated, and sterilized stray dogs must be released back into their original territory after completion of the prescribed procedure. Dogs picked up following public complaints may be kept only for temporary behavioural observation, typically not exceeding two weeks. Several stray dogs allegedly picked up on Jan 9 have still not been returned to their original locations even though the dogs were non-aggressive. According to animal welfare representatives, several healthy dogs from areas including Ghansoli bus depot and near Belapur Court are currently being housed at the IDA (In Defence of Animals) ABC Centre in NMMC jurisdiction.They argue that ABC centres are intended primarily for sterilization and vaccination, not long-term confinement. Prolonged detention, they say, could reduce the centre’s operational capacity and undermine the objectives of the ABC programme.”
She further claimed that NMMC does not presently operate a fully equipped shelter meeting Supreme Court standards. Legal provisions require that any facility used for detention of stray dogs must have adequate infrastructure, qualified veterinary staff, medical and hygiene facilities, trained caretakers, and humane living conditions. In the absence of such facilities, continued confinement of stray dogs may raise legal and ethical concerns.However, Dr Srikant Todkar, HOD of NMMC veterinarian dept said, “As per SC guidelines, we picked up as many as 28 stray dogs across Navi Mumbai, including six sterilized stray dogs near Ghansoli bus depot as it was risky that they could have been harmed as they slept under the NMMT buses at the depot. Even a female dog and her six puppies were picked up from near Belapur court and they were sterilized at the animal care centre at Turbhe after which they were released.“Tank added, legal provisions require that any facility used for detention of stray dogs must have adequate infrastructure, qualified veterinary staff, medical and hygiene facilities, trained caretakers, and humane living conditions. In the absence of such facilities, continued confinement of stray dogs may raise legal and ethical concerns. She added, “Multiple written complaints, emails, and social media representations have reportedly been addressed to the NMMC Commissioner Kailas Shinde requesting the release of healthy stray dogs back to their territories. An RTI application has also been filed seeking clarification on whether the IDA facility is officially designated as an ABC centre or a shelter, along with related tender details. The issue has also drawn attention to broader gaps in animal welfare infrastructure in the city. Activists point out that Navi Mumbai lacks a full-scale municipal animal hospital serving the stretch between Vashi, Panvel, and Thane. A separate RTI application has reportedly been filed seeking details on the status of the long-pending animal hospital project, including sanctioned funds, expenditure, and reasons for delay. The city is also said to lack adequate animal cremation facilities.”Social activist Sanchu Menon said, “If detained stray dogs suffer illness, infection, neglect or death due to improper confinement, questions of accountability could arise. When NMMC commissioner Kailas Shinde after being rapped by HC for alleged lapses and ineffective implementation of air pollution control norms and directing him not to withdraw his monthly salary, can take legal action by issuing notices to 42 construction sites and work at 19 construction sites was stopped for failing to comply with pollution control norms, why the animal welfare activists’ complaints about concerns about sterilized stray dogs are being ignored. Does it mean that the animal welfare activists will get justice only after approaching the HC.”Dr Todkar said, “On Jan 9, when our team went to pick up the six stray dogs near Ghansoli bus depot to prevent any fatal accident, some animal activists objected and created a ruckus. Hence, an FIR has been registered at Rabale police station under relevant BNS sections against two accused women identified as Laren Kamat and Anuprita Rao, both Ghansoli residents, for assaulting or using criminal force against a public servant to deter them from discharging their duty and other BNS sections.“
