NMC OKs Rs6.9Cr Project, Modern Dog Shelter To Come Up In Wathoda
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Nagpur: After years of neglect and mounting criticism from animal welfare groups, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) finally greenlit a major overhaul of its animal care infrastructure by approving a Rs6.89 crore project for a modern dog shelter in Wathoda.
The decision comes in response to repeated complaints about poor state of the existing shelter, which long struggled with inadequate facilities, overcrowding, and lack of medical care. Animal rights activists routinely flagged the issue, accusing the civic body of ignoring welfare of stray animals.
To be built on a 3-acre plot in Wathoda, the new shelter will have capacity to house around 200 dogs. Plans include separate enclosures for adult dogs and puppies, isolation sheds, a dedicated hygiene system, a modern veterinary hospital, play areas, storage rooms, and other essential infrastructure, officials said.
Municipal commissioner and administrator Abhijeet Chaudhari directed the civic administration to strengthen the facility and ensure better care for strays.
Officials said the facility will not just serve as a shelter but also as a rehabilitation and treatment centre, significantly improving the city's capacity for humane stray management. With the NMC granting technical approval, construction is expected to begin shortly.
The initiative marks a long-awaited shift in the civic body's approach towards animal welfare and is seen as a step forward in creating more compassionate urban infrastructure.
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