The BMC is expected to pay a sizable sum for the following three years while sterilising and immunising stray dogs and cats in Mumbai on Wednesday. The
BMC is now paying nearly twice as much as it did under the previous deal. Over Rs. 6.40 crores will be spent by the corporation between 2023 and 25. The dog control cell has been sterilising stray animals as part of the animal sterilisation campaign since 1994.
This initiative was started as a result of a 1998 high court order. Although there was a provision for dog sterilisation to manage Mumbai's population, reports of cat bites were also coming in. As a result, the BMC began a similar initiative for sterilising cats. 2019 saw the BMC award a three-year, Rs 3 crores contract for cat sterilisation. Another plan has just been submitted for the following three years and has been given the civic administrator's approval.
Four animal organisations have been chosen by the civic body, and work will shortly begin. The 10,000–11,000 sterilisations per year aim has been maintained, according to Karimpasha Pathan, General Manager of the Deonar abattoir and in charge of the sterilisation programme. Depending on who is responsible for the cost of water and power, the civic authority would pay between Rs 1,600 and Rs 2,000 for male cats and between Rs 1,800 and Rs 2,200 for each female cat.
