New Delhi: Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) claims it has achieved nearly 70% sterilisation of stray dogs in more than 200 wards since Aug 2024, based on a report submitted by 13 NGOs operating 20 Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres across the city. Experts, however, have raised concerns about the accuracy of the data, pointing out that many areas—particularly in East, North East, and West Delhi—continue to report a growing stray dog population. “A 70% sterilisation rate would mean the stray dog issue is largely under control, which clearly isn’t the case. Unless the civic body conducts its own verification or a proper census, the figures submitted by NGOs remain questionable,” said a former MCD veterinary director, requesting anonymity. The last official dog census was done by the erstwhile South Corporation in 2016, which estimated 1,89,285 stray dogs in its areas. Since MCD was re-unified in 2022, no city-wide survey has been completed. However, the tentative dog population was counted as 10 lakh in 2022-23. MCD, meanwhile, is focusing on wards where sterilisation rates are between 40% and 60%, as per the NGOs’ report. These wards mostly fall under West, South, Civil Lines zones, Shahdara South and Shahdara North areas. Officials explained that colonies in border areas—such as Burari, Kapashera, Mahipalpur, and Narela—tend to have larger unsterilised dog populations. This is because dogs often cross into Delhi from neighbouring states or regions in search of food. “Villages or areas with open agricultural land, like Najafgarh or the Singhu Border in Narela, tend to have fewer stray dog problems,” said an MCD official, adding, “In contrast, border areas with dense populations—such as Mahipalpur, Kapashera and Chhawla—report much higher numbers. We’re verifying NGO claims and drawing up a targeted action plan to step up sterilisation drives in under-covered zones.” Additionally, the civic body has invited proposals from agencies for installing microchips in stray dogs, as per directions from Delhi govt. “We’re preparing a comprehensive plan to submit to the govt,” said a senior official, adding, “Though a stray dog census was recently approved by MCD’s finance department, once microchipping begins, a census may no longer be necessary. The chips will help us track sterilised dogs and identify those that haven’t been covered.” Previously, just two NGOs were handling sterilisation and immunisation efforts in Delhi. That number has now grown to five, with specific zones assigned to each to speed up the process. Anubhav Khajuria, who runs the ABC centre in Masoodpur, detailed how his teams identify unsterilised dogs. “Initially, we conduct a survey to identify sterilised dogs in a ward. Our teams ride on bikes along fixed routes between 5.30 and 9.30 a.m., when traffic is light and stray dogs are more visible. We look for the notch in the right ear, which indicates sterilisation. The same route is repeated over the next few days to count unsterilised dogs. On day five, we validate the data again for accuracy. Once we know the ratio, we begin sterilisation drives to reach the 70–80% target, as per guidelines.” He said similar methods have proven successful in areas like Malviya Nagar, Green Park, Mehrauli, RK Puram, and Munirka. Once targets were met there, teams moved to border regions including Maidan Garhi, Chattarpur, Ghitorni and Bhati Mines, as per MCD directives. Geeta Seshamani, co-founder and vice-president of Friendicoes SECA, has previously stated that the ABC programme works best in areas with strong civic infrastructure. “In places like Defence Colony and Kotla Mubarakpur, about 70% of the stray dog population has been sterilised,” she noted. “But in peripheral localities with poor sanitation and waste management, the numbers keep rising—partly due to dogs migrating from neighbouring towns,” she said.
