Have MCD Dues Been Cleared to NGOs Running Sterilisation?

In a strategic step to eliminate a prolonged financial hindrance, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Tuesday sanctioned the disbursement of ₹13.5 crore to settle dues of 13 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that operate 20 centers for sterilization and vaccination of stray dogs in different parts of the capital city.

The decision to pay, which the Supreme Court of India (SC) repeatedly supported by urging municipal authorities to take more aggressive measures in sterilization and rabies cases, finally put an end to the saga that began in March 2025, when payments for thousands of sterilized and vaccinated dogs were halted.

The Background: Payment Delays and Operational Strain

MCD under the city’s Animal Birth Control (ABC) program gives NGOs and vets a sum of ₹1,000 for each dog, covering the entire costs of sterilization and immunization. 

The MCD sterilized and paid for an estimated 1.2 million stray dogs from April 2024 to February 2025. Besides, 42,761 dogs were treated from March to June 2025, when MCD owed about ₹4.2 crore to the veterinarians. 

The NGOs claimed that the stoppage of funds and absence of a budget for 2025–26 had thrown their activities into uncertainty.

 As a result, sterilization drives were slowed down, and the issue of public health was raised.

What’s Included in the ₹13.5 Crore Allocation?

The newly approved amount has the following components:

• Outstanding payments for the stray dogs that were sterilized and vaccinated from March to June 2025

• Funds for carrying out the increased 1.4 lakh procedures projected for the period April 2025 to February 2026

• Extra financial support of ₹1.5 crore for monitoring to implant microchips in sterilized dogs and keep a check on the NGO’s performance. This provision aims to keep the NGOs accountable in the scenario of new births or rabies-related casualties after sterilization.

• With the new policy in place, NGOs will be subjected to a financial penalty: a 2% annual payment deduction for every new puppy born after sterilization in their area, and, in case of rabies-related deaths, a 10% deduction.
  

Broader Reforms: Shelter, Monitoring & Infrastructure

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) provided financial support and also took the lead in building a permanent shelter for stray dogs with behavioural issues. The shelter is located in Dwarka Sector 23. It will cover an area of 2.5 acres. Once completed, the facility will accommodate over 1500 dogs.

In addition, MCD announced that there will be 423 official feeding spots across the city. These will cover approximately 125 wards of Delhi. Signboards have already been placed at 14 of the identified locations. This initiative aims to officially mark feeding areas and help manage the movement of stray dogs.

What This Means, And What’s Still Pending

Instant help for NGOs: The financial approval has provided air to the lungs for NGOs that have been fighting to keep their operations going.

Improved accountability: Microchipping and monetary fines may lead to a more open and accountable system, and at the same time keep negligence at bay.

LHLD regulation shows the initiation of the government to approach the stray-dog problem more comprehensively to make it a non-issue, and in the long run, by having the shelters and feeding zones established.

On the other hand, critics point out the reforms still face some of the old hurdles, like: no updated stray dog count, shelters possibly getting overloaded, very little capacity per shelter, and the untrustworthiness of data provided by NGOs. 

If a strong monitoring system and a uniform city management strategy are not there the new funding will just be a short-term solution.

Conclusion

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has finally approved ₹13.5 crores in pending dues. This marks a crucial step toward reviving the stray-dog sterilisation program. The released funds, along with new monitoring and infrastructure plans, show a stronger commitment to public health, animal welfare, and urban sanitation.

However, the success of these measures depends on proper implementation and consistent monitoring. It will also require ongoing cooperation between NGOs, veterinary experts, and municipal authorities. If managed well, Delhi may finally achieve long-term, sustainable control of the stray-dog population.