Hyderabad: Supreme Court directions on controlling stray dogs in densely populated public places have prompted major municipal corporations in the Hyderabad metropolitan region to intensify efforts to tackle the growing menace.
Civic authorities are now preparing comprehensive action plans involving new Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres, dog shelters, rescue teams and enhanced waste management systems.
Officials estimate that more than eight lakh stray dogs are currently roaming across the Combined Hyderabad Region (CYR), including over five lakh within the limits of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation alone.
Despite annual expenditure exceeding Rs25 crore on stray dog management, the issue continues to pose serious public health and safety concerns.
The apex court recently directed authorities to ensure that stray dogs do not roam freely in crowded areas such as schools, hospitals, railway stations, bus depots, markets and public parks.
The court also warned that action could be initiated against officials if adequate preventive measures are not implemented. Following these directions, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation and Cyberabad Municipal Corporation have begun reviewing the scale of the problem and assessing infrastructure requirements for large-scale implementation.
Officials said hundreds of dog-bite incidents are being reported every year, with estimates ranging between 2,000 and 3,000 cases annually. Demand for anti-rabies vaccines has also increased significantly at major government hospitals, including Niloufer Hospital, Osmania General Hospital, Gandhi Hospital, Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences and Fever Hospital. Residents across several localities have expressed concern over increasing attacks on children and elderly persons, particularly in suburban and semi-urban areas.
According to officials, between Rs18 crore and Rs22 crore was spent during the previous financial year on stray dog management activities.
The expenditure reportedly includes Rs 9 crore towards sterilisation programmes, Rs3.5 crore for anti-rabies vaccination, Rs4 crore for dog-catching vehicles and personnel, Rs2 crore for shelter maintenance and animal care. However, officials noted that the total annual expenditure has now crossed Rs25 crore and may increase substantially following the latest court directives.
At present, ABC centres are functioning in Amberpet, Jeedimetla, Fathullaguda and Shamirpet. Authorities said only 700 to 900 sterilisation surgeries are currently being conducted per day, while experts estimate that at least 2,500 daily procedures are necessary to effectively stabilise the stray dog population.
Currently, around 30 dog-catching teams are operating within the old GHMC limits. Civic authorities are now preparing proposals to add 20 more teams and increase the number of dog-catching vehicles from 42 to 70.
Existing shelters reportedly have the capacity to temporarily house only around 2,500 dogs. Officials estimate that if large-scale relocation becomes necessary under court directions, new shelters capable of accommodating at least 10,000 dogs would be required.