If the recorded number of dog bite cases in the city over the last one year is any indication, then the claims of the municipal corporations to put a check on the population of stray dogs seem to be hollow propositions.





According to a data released by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, on an average 90 people were bitten by dogs per day over the last eleven months.

From April 1 2012 to March 1, 2013, a total of 31,608 cases of dog bites were registered in the limits of North Corporation alone. The unified MCD had registered only around 17,000 such cases during 2011-2012.



While the North civic agency has recorded over 31,000 dog bite cases, the actual number could be more as the civic body data only comprises reports of people who visited municipal hospitals and clinics for treatment. Many dog bite victims visit private hospitals for better care.



According to the veterinary department of the civic agency, of those admitted to municipal-run hospitals, 16 victims died of rabies. Nine were residents of Delhi.



Officials said there is a lack of enough staff and infrastructure to carry out dog sterilisation process. “All the sterilisation centres which were available in unified MCD have gone to the South Corporation. Now the corporation is planning to open its own sterilisation centre in Rohini,” said leader of House in North Corporation, Mahendra Nagpal.



“We have requested the DDA to provide land for the purpose.”

Officials added that the civic body only has 46 staffers and 10 vans to catch dogs. Of these, four vans are non-functional. The corporation has been able to sterilise only 3,859 dogs in the past 11 months. But, according to the veterinary department the dog population in the limits of North Corporation is between 1.35 and 1.5 lakh.



While hospitals in south Delhi have also registered many cases of dog bites, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation has not compiled any report on them.



The issue of dog bite has been raised by councillors during the standing committee and House meeting, both in North and South corporation.



While the North Corporation held a special House meeting over the issue on March 11, the South civic agency held a similar meeting last month.