Maharashtra to Build Stray Dog Shelters in Mulund, Malad and Nahur Within Six Months
The Maharashtra government on Friday announced plans to establish a dedicated stray dog shelter within six months using land in Mulund, Malad, and Nahur, as part of a state-wide push to tackle the growing stray dog population. Minister Uday Samant announced the measures in the Legislative Assembly in response to questions about rising dog attacks across the state, which currently has an estimated 14.8 lakh stray dogs.
During the Question Hour, MLA Arjun Khotkar raised concerns over the rising number of stray dog attacks, including fatal incidents involving children. In response, Samant directed all urban and rural local self-government bodies to strictly implement the Supreme Court's guidelines and the federal Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023.
To build the new shelter in Mumbai, the government has requested the Revenue Department to hand over plots of land measuring 3,000 square feet each in Mulund and Malad, alongside an 8,411-square-foot plot in Nahur.
According to government data, Mumbai alone is home to approximately 94,000 of the state's 14.8 lakh stray dogs. So far this year, the state has sterilised 65,000 dogs and vaccinated 97,960 against rabies.
In addition to the new shelter, municipal corporations in Mumbai, Pune, Kalyan-Dombivli, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and Nashik have decided to establish dedicated Animal Birth Control departments. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has also initiated targeted measures, including regular sterilisation and vaccination drives, to reduce the stray dog presence around Dr R.N. Cooper Hospital.
To coordinate these efforts across different departments, the state has designated the Animal Husbandry Department as the nodal agency. Separate circulars have been issued by the Urban Development Department and the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department to local bodies to ensure compliance with Supreme Court orders. Financial assistance for the necessary infrastructure will be provided through the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF).
