A sharp escalation in stray dog attacks across Maharashtra’s major cities — particularly Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur — has triggered widespread public concern and forced the issue into the centre of the Legislative Assembly’s proceedings. Lawmakers raised urgent questions about citizen safety and the administration’s failure to control the growing menace.
Minister of State for Urban Development Madhuri Misal shared striking figures: Mumbai has nearly 90,000 stray dogs but only eight municipal shelters. Statewide, urban bodies together manage nearly 12 lakh dogs, with just 105 shelters available for captured animals and sterilisation. Misal admitted that the lack of holding centres is severely slowing down dog-control measures.
BJP MLA Mahesh Landge accused some animal welfare groups of obstructing sterilisation and dog-catching drives, pointing out that over one lakh dog-bite cases were reported in Pune in the last three years. BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar demanded that the government immediately use available state land to build large shelters. Shiv Sena (Thackeray) MLA Sunil Prabhu added that even elected representatives feel unsafe on the streets, urging strict action against those who hinder sterilisation programmes.
Misal assured the House that the government will soon call a special meeting with MLAs and municipal officials to finalise swift, actionable steps. Citizens now await concrete measures to ensure safer streets.
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