New Delhi: New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has decided to develop a larger and better-equipped dog shelter facility for stray dogs at the old veterinary hospital in Moti Bagh, officials said.The shelter will be developed by renovating the rear portion of the building. While a small facility with a capacity for around 30 aggressive dogs was earlier created at the site, NDMC has initiated the process to hire an agency to set up a full-scale shelter that can house over 500 dogs.“Tenders have been invited for facade development, internal repairs and courtyard development, among others. The project will cost approximately Rs 50 lakh and is expected to be completed in three months,” said the official. Following Supreme Court’s directions, an open, fenced space will be developed to keep non-biting stray dogs picked up from educational institutions, office complexes and other premises. A facility with separate kennels for 300 rabid and attacking dogs will also be constructed. The shelter will have a designated feeding area and an operation theatre.Acting on the same directions, NDMC has earmarked 100 designated feeding points across its 14 circles, covering major markets, parks, religious places and residential colonies. Officials said the feeding points were finalised in consultation with residents welfare and market associations, and residents. To address complaints related to stray dogs, NDMC has also ensured appointment of nodal officials by institutions, hospitals and office complexes.Meanwhile, Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s plan to develop a large dog shelter for keeping aggressive dogs at Dwarka Sector 23 has seen little progress. Officials said a Rs 3.8-crore project for a shelter with a capacity of 1,500 dogs was prepared some time ago, but it was yet to receive approval from the commissioner. “It will then be placed before the house,” an official said.In its budget, MCD earmarked Rs 20 crore for microchipping and mass sterilisation of stray dogs, but it is also awaiting the final nod. Under the plan, microchips — each about the size of a grain of rice — will be injected at the back of dogs’ necks to store key information such as its tentative age, colour, area or ward of habitation, immunisation schedule and the name of the NGO responsible for vaccination. The data will be uploaded on a portal and made accessible to MCD officials.
