North MCD to conduct dog census; last count in 2009

Amid rising number of dog bite cases in Delhi, the North MCD has decided to conduct a canine census in its area beginning with the Walled City, six years after such an exercise was taken up by the then unified MCD.

“Stray dog census would be conducted in our areas. Out of the six zones, we will begin the exercise with two zones — City and Sadar Paharganj ourselves while for the rest four we have already floated tenders for private agencies,” a senior North MCD official said.

City and Sadar Paharganj Zones fall under the Old City, where a case of fatal dog bite was reported a few months ago, and the North Delhi Municipal Corporation said the Walled City area, being more populated and congested, was chosen on a “priority basis”.

“Street dog menace is a major issue in the city and we have been trying to address it through various means, whether it is opening of sterilisation centres or procurement of dog-catching vans,” he said.

North MCD’s Standing Committee Chairman Mohan Bhardwaj in the panel’s meeting today said, “10 new vans costing nearly Rs 54 lakh would be procured soon to catch stray dogs.” 

No official census of streets dogs in Delhi has taken place in the last six years even as the South Delhi Municipal Corporation had been planning to conduct a fresh one in its area.

The last count of street dogs was done in 2009 for the then Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) which had pegged their population at around 5.62 lakh. The MCD was trifurcated into — North, South and East Corporations in 2012.

Cases of dog bites, including children being fatally attacked by them in areas such as Darya Ganj and Okhla, have raised concern about street safety in the city.