BMC Directs Mumbai University To Feed Community Dogs On Campus

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has directed the University of Mumbai to ensure that community dogs living on its Kalina campus are provided with food and water. The directive comes after complaints that restrictions imposed by the university had disrupted feeding arrangements for the dogs.

According to the BMC, a survey conducted on the campus found 94 community dogs, of which 78 have already been sterilised and the remaining 16 are expected to be sterilised shortly. The civic body has been undertaking sterilisation and anti-rabies vaccination of community dogs through recognised organisations as part of its population-control programme.

The BMC cited surveys conducted in 2014 and 2024, which show that the density of community dogs on Mumbai's streets has fallen by around 22% to 28% over the decade. The city has an estimated 90,757 community dogs, and under the rabies-control initiative, around 1.5 lakh anti-rabies vaccinations were administered to community dogs between 2023 and 2026.

The BMC also referred to Supreme Court directions concerning community dogs at institutional premises, which state that institutions are expected to take measures such as securing their boundaries, installing gates and fencing where necessary, and appointing nodal officers to oversee cleanliness and management of community dogs.

The civic body has mapped 2,356 institutional premises across Mumbai, with 8,850 community dogs identified at these locations. Proposals have been made to establish shelters at Anik village and Mulund, while the process of securing sites at Malvani and Mahul is nearing completion.

The BMC has instructed the university to comply with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and to neither prevent feeders from entering the campus nor prohibit them from providing food to the dogs. The issue had recently been raised by the Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena (MNVS), which objected to the alleged disruption of feeding arrangements for the dogs.

The BMC's directive is a significant step towards ensuring the welfare of community dogs in Mumbai. The city's dog management efforts have shown positive results, with a decrease in the density of community dogs on the streets. The establishment of shelters and the implementation of population-control programmes are expected to further improve the situation.

The university's compliance with the BMC's directive will ensure that the community dogs on the Kalina campus are provided with the necessary care and attention. The move is also expected to have a positive impact on the overall dog management efforts in the city.

In conclusion, the BMC's directive to the University of Mumbai to feed community dogs on campus is a welcome step towards ensuring the welfare of these animals. The city's dog management efforts have shown promising results, and the establishment of shelters and implementation of population-control programmes are expected to further improve the situation.

The directive also highlights the importance of complying with animal welfare laws and regulations. The university's compliance with the BMC's directive will set a positive precedent for other institutions in the city to follow.

Overall, the BMC's directive is a significant step towards ensuring the welfare of community dogs in Mumbai, and it is expected to have a positive impact on the city's dog management efforts.