Hubballi: After a Bengaluru-based company was awarded the contract for sterilisation of dogs under the ABC programme in Hubballi-Dharwad, trained stray dog catchers have been brought in from Nepal, to start the process of catching the dogs. The project was awarded to the company at Rs 1.9 crore for 12,000 stray dogs. The activity was planned with teams deployed on a shift basis, while arrangements for dedicated vehicles continued.Sources in HDMC said two teams from Nepal, each consisting of five members, has already reached Hubballi. Three more teams are expected to arrive within the week. A total of 25-people will be working in shifts to ensure the sterilisation process takes place smoothly.Santosh Yarangali, executive engineer, SWM department said, “Currently, the procurement process for specially designed vehicles is underway. Until the vehicles are procured, the team is catching dogs using outsourced vehicles. This arrangement is an interim measure, enabling the teams to begin work without delay.”“As per the survey there are a total 27,000 stray dogs in Hubballi-Dharwad,” he added, and indicated that shift-based deployment will help manage workload and coordinate across targeted areas.Najeer Honyal, corporator, said that in Old Hubballi areas there was a menace of stray dogs, and the officials should take up initiative to curb the stray dog menace.
