MCD plans penalties for lax NGO-run stray canine centres

 The Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s (MCD) Standing Committee is about to tighten rules governing animal contraception (ABC) centres run by NGOs in a gathering scheduled for Thursday.

The transfer goals to reinforce accountability for negligence and lapses in sterilisation and vaccination drives for stray canines, with potential fund cuts and penalties for poor performers.

Delhi presently has 20 ABC centres managed by NGOs underneath the MCD, every chargeable for attaining 80% sterilisation of their respective zones, as mandated by the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023. However, officers mentioned persistent gaps in implementation and monitoring have led to continued development within the stray canine inhabitants, regardless of reported sterilisation drives.

“If even after sterilisation of canines in a specific space, as claimed by the NGO, the inhabitants continues to rise, it signifies a level of negligence. There should be accountability, and stringent tips are wanted for this,” a senior official mentioned.

Proposed penalties

Under the proposed measures, the Standing Committee will focus on fund cuts and extra penalties for NGOs that fail to fulfill sterilisation targets. Each ABC centre is required to take care of detailed registers and submit month-to-month progress stories, documenting the variety of sterilisation and vaccination procedures, verification of procedures by way of “organ counts”, and information of problems or deaths. Currently, the MCD pays NGOs ₹1,000 per sterilisation and immunisation process.

Delayed funds

Administrative approval can also be being sought to launch ₹13.5 crore earmarked for the ABC programme, as funds have been pending for over six months. The quantity covers the goal of sterilising 1.35 lakh canines within the ongoing monetary 12 months.

According to MCD knowledge, 31,888 sterilisation procedures had been performed by June this 12 months, for which funds are nonetheless awaited. NGOs have flagged operational difficulties because of the non-disbursal of funds since March 2025. Over the previous three years, sterilisation numbers have steadily risen – from 59,076 in 2022 to 79,959 in 2023, and 1,31,137 in 2024.

The transfer to strengthen accountability follows the Supreme Court’s August order addressing the rising stray canine menace. On August 22, the courtroom modified its earlier instructions, permitting sterilised and vaccinated stray canines to be returned to their authentic localities, supplied they aren’t aggressive or rabies-infected.