The Supreme Court’s mandate to relocate stray dogs from the Delhi-NCR region has placed considerable financial strain on the MCD. The daily expenditure for this initiative is projected to be around ₹11 crore, including provisions for food, transportation, sanitation, medical care, and personnel. This poses a major challenge for the MCD, which is already dealing with financial constraints. The estimated cost is approximately ₹110 per dog each day, covering food, transportation, cleaning, medical care, staff, and utilities. The MCD is currently assessing the costs and exploring potential shelter locations. Initially, the focus is on relocating a limited number of dogs, specifically those involved in biting incidents or suffering from diseases. The MCD is already spending ₹1,000 per dog daily on sterilization, and the court has directed the concerned regions to create shelters within a defined timeframe. The MCD is also considering microchipping the dogs to keep track of their vaccinations and sterilization records. Discussions are underway regarding a large shelter in Ghogha Dairy, along with other potential sites like Dwarka Sector 29. The overall scope of the project will be finalized once the court’s final order is issued.
