The Belagavi City Corporation is set to issue a sixth tender for awarding the contract to neuter stray dogs in the city, as confirmed by the Health and Animal Husbandry Department. The previous five tenders failed to attract any bidders, leaving the civic body struggling to control the growing stray dog population.
The sterilization work has come to a complete halt since the departure of workers from Assam who were responsible for catching dogs for the procedure. Initially, officials claimed the workers had gone home for the Diwali festival, but they have not returned even weeks later. With no clarity on whether they will rejoin, the sterilization program remains suspended.
The rabies vaccination drive has also come to a standstill due to the absence of trained personnel to catch stray dogs. As a result, both sterilization and vaccination campaigns are currently inactive, and officials admit that no progress can be made until a new contractor is appointed.
The last official contract for neutering was awarded to Voice for Voiceless in June 2022 for a period of one year. Although the corporation extended the contract briefly, the Health Standing Committee later decided to invite fresh tenders. However, despite five rounds of tendering since June 2023, no bidder has come forward.
A sterilization center was earlier established at the cowshed in Srinagar through the efforts of local corporator Laxmi Rathod, but operations there have also been halted following protests by some individuals and animal welfare supporters.
Meanwhile, the corporation plans to set up a new stray dog sterilisation centre at Hirebagewadi, for which District Collector Mohammad Roshan has granted approval. Land-leveling work has already begun, but the construction is expected to take time, raising concerns that the sterilization campaign will remain inactive until the facility becomes operational.
With rising incidents of dog attacks being reported from different parts of the city, citizens are demanding immediate action. However, civic officials admit that the administration has been rendered helpless in addressing the stray dog menace without an active contractor or operational facility.