PUNE: Officials at Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) will soon be submitting a proposal to the State Government seeking permission to change the purpose of land in Mundhwa to create a park for stray dogs. The six-acre plot was reserved for rehabilitation of cattle sheds outside the city. The civic body wants to create a dog park in this lot. The concept was first discussed in 2008.
The park includes a dog shelter, healthcare, sanitation, sterilisation and vaccination facilities for stray dogs. The civic body has estimated expenditure of Rs 25 crore to create infrastructure like sheds, hospital and a dog sewage treatment plant.
PMC Chief Health Officer Ramchandra Hankare said, “Last month, health officers visited Mundhwa area, where the PMC wishes to set up a park for stray dogs. The land was earlier set aside for rehabilitation of city-based cattle sheds outside the main city.”
Now, we want to change the land purpose to create stray dog park,” he said.
He added, “The PMC has decided to approach the State Government for change in the purpose of land. After obtaining this permission, we will decide whether to run this project on our own, or either on partnership or third-party basis”
This proposal was earlier discussed in 2008 and 2012. Former standing committee chairman and Shiv Sena corporator Shyam Deshpande first initiated this concept in 2008. He allocated Rs 1 crore for dog park. However, the project was not taken up. In 2012, Corporators Kishor Vitkar and Sheetal Sawant again moved this proposal before the Standing Committee, demanding special space to keep all stray dogs under one roof which got sanctioned in December 2012. However, due to unavailability of funds and land, the proposal failed to take off.
STRAYS IN CITY
- City has more than 40,000 stray dogs.
- Rs 18,000 to Rs 25,000 will be spent on each dog per annum.
- The PMC has to allocate Rs 72 to 100 crore per annum for stray dogs.
SPACE NEEDED
- A dog requires 30 to 40 square feet
- The PMC has to allocate 7 to 10 acres land
- Committee has sent a proposal to Health Department for their opinion in terms of feasibility.