Nagpur Gears Up for Stray Dog Crackdown: NMC to Bolster Shelters Amid Rising Bites and Supreme Court Mandate
Nagpur — In response to a recent Supreme Court mandate aimed at clearing stray dogs from schools, bus stands, and other public spaces, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is ramping up its efforts to enhance animal control and shelter facilities. The civic authority, which currently oversees more than 90,000 stray dogs and numerous rescued bovines across urban areas, must navigate the delicate balance between public safety, cleanliness, and humane treatment of animals.
A senior official from NMC’s veterinary department noted that while the corporation has not yet obtained the full details of the Supreme Court order, it stands prepared to implement the directives promptly. The NMC deploys 10 specialized vans for capturing strays, each operated by a team of three trained personnel. Its existing infrastructure includes three animal birth control centers: one at Bhandewadi holding up to 150 dogs, another at Gorewada with space for 120, and a smaller facility at Maharajbagh accommodating 50, where sterilization and vaccination programs are conducted. An additional shelter at Bhandewadi can house 70 more animals.
To meet growing demands, the NMC is building a larger facility at Bhandewadi designed for 250 dogs, alongside upgrades to the Gorewada and Maharajbagh sites to increase their capacities. Officials concede, however, that these resources fall short for a city estimated to have at least 100,000 stray dogs. A forthcoming survey by the state animal husbandry department, due later this month, should provide a more precise count.
Earlier, the NMC designated 16 feeding zones for strays based on recommendations from animal welfare advocates and suggested 40 additional sites. Public resistance limited approvals to just 14 locations. The Supreme Court’s intervention now prompts a review of these arrangements by the veterinary department, potentially leading to adjustments.
Beyond canines, stray cattle pose a persistent challenge. The NMC operates two impound facilities at Pardi and Dharampeth, jointly holding only 50 animals—woefully inadequate for the scale of the issue. Progress continues on the ambitious Rs 104 crore ‘Nandagram’ initiative at Wathoda, set to offer structured housing for 3,520 cattle, encompassing strays. Despite this, more than 1,000 unauthorized cattle sheds persist in residential neighborhoods, fostering sanitation problems and mosquito proliferation.
The stray dog problem in Nagpur has intensified citywide, transcending isolated hotspots. Dog bite incidents have climbed 62% from 2021 to 2024, underscoring the NMC’s struggles to curb the threat, according to Right to Information (RTI) data obtained from the corporation. Reports show cases escalating from 5,800 in 2021 to 9,427 in 2024. In a stark trend, the first seven months of 2025 alone logged 6,056 attacks—equivalent to about 28 per day, with five classified as severe.
Although the NMC reports having sterilized 50,000 stray dogs in the last two years, the population surge outstrips these interventions, rendering the program insufficient. Authorities acknowledge that the sterilization pace lags behind reproduction rates, limiting its effectiveness. Specialists urge a major escalation in the animal birth control efforts to yield meaningful results. With current vaccination and sterilization campaigns proving inadequate, locals describe a daily apprehension toward strays. Without swift acceleration from the NMC, 2025 risks becoming the city’s most severe year on record for canine assaults.