Surat : People struggle with stray dogs despite SMC spending Rs. 3.29 Cr in five years

Surat : The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has reportedly allocated approximately Rs 3.29 crore in the past five years to address the issue of stray dogs in the diamond city of Surat. Despite the substantial financial investment, the city continues to grapple with the menace of stray dogs, causing concerns among residents, especially when it comes to the safety of children.

A two-year-old boy was bitten by the stray dog when he was playing near his house in Parvatgam in Surat. There have been incidents galore in the city over the last one year that numerous dog bite cases have been reported.

The disclosure regarding the hefty expenditure and the ongoing problem came to light through a Right to Information (RTI) query filed by Sanjay Ezhawa, a prominent RTI activist and social advocate in Surat. Ezhawa, who is known for his vigilant approach towards civic issues, sought information on the funds allocated and utilized by the SMC for controlling the stray dog population in the city.

According to the SMC’s response, they have expended a significant sum of Rs 3.29 crore from the fiscal year 2018-2019 up to 2022-2023 for the sterilization and vaccination of stray dogs in Surat. These measures were intended to control the population and ensure the safety of residents.

Over the five-year period, approximately 30,300 dogs have been vaccinated and sterilized under the SMC’s initiative. In a significant development in 2021, the SMC awarded a tender worth Rs 1.80 crore to the Society for Animal Welfare and Rural Development, a non-governmental organization (NGO), for the vaccination and sterilization of stray dogs. In the subsequent year, the NGO vaccinated 3,605 dogs in 2021-22 and 9,279 dogs in 2022-23.

However, despite these efforts and substantial financial investments, the menace of stray dogs roaming the streets of Surat appears to persist unabated. Notably, the cost of vaccination and sterilization has also been on the rise. In the years 2018-2019, 2019-2020, and 2020-2021, the cost per dog was Rs. 839. In the year 2021-22, the expenditure increased to Rs. 1,450, and in 2022-23, it was Rs. 1,403 per dog.

RTI activist Sanjay Ezhawa expressed his concerns, stating, “So the question arises in the method of vaccination and sterilization of the stray dogs. The Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules 2001 provide for vaccination and sterilization of stray dogs in the streets and mohallas, which is not followed. However, the vaccination and sterilization method is not as per the rules.”