The Belagavi City Corporation’s efforts to find a new contractor for the sterilization of stray dogs have hit a dead end, with the tendering process failing for the third consecutive time. Despite floating tenders on three occasions—the latest in August—no agency has come forward to take up the work, according to the corporation’s health department.
With no new bidder in sight, the current contractor will have to continue the sterilization campaign. Whether the civic body will call for a fourth tender remains uncertain and is likely to be discussed between the health officer and the municipal commissioner in the coming days.
The stray dog menace in Belagavi has become a serious issue, and sterilization efforts have been ongoing since June 2022. Presently, surgeries are carried out at a Goshala in Srinagar, but limited facilities mean only 8–10 dogs can be sterilized per day. Earlier, operations were conducted just twice a week; now, they take place six days a week. Even so, the capacity falls short of the city’s growing needs.
Complications with the existing contractor have also slowed the pace. Work was halted for a few months due to pending payments, and though it resumed after bills were cleared, the contractor has been unable to scale up operations.
To expand capacity, the District Collector has approved the use of two acres of land in Hirebagewadi for setting up a sterilization centre. Once the facility—complete with soundproofing and modern infrastructure—is ready, it will be able to handle over 100 dogs a day without causing disturbance to nearby villagers.
The tenure of the existing contractor officially ended in June 2023, but with no replacement available, a two-year extension has been granted. Until a new contractor is found and the Hirebagewadi centre is operational, the ongoing sterilization work will continue under the current arrangement.