Councillors flagged the rising stray dog menace and the limited impact of Animal Birth Control (ABC) and Anti-Rabies Vaccination measures, at the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) Council meeting.

Ward 138 Councillor K. Kannan said the stray dog population had risen from 40,000 to nearly two lakh in the last four years, and could reach three lakh next year.

When he enquired about the ABC surgery status and its efficiency, GCC Commissioner J. Kumaragurubaran said that only 85 surgeries could be done per day.

Mayor R. Priya said: “ABC surgery can be performed onlyafter a dog is eight months old. Nothing can be done if a dog gives birth beforehand. While there have been reports of aggression in sterilised dogs, there have been no complaints about them reproducing post-surgery. ABC centres and veterinary clinics will soon be set up in all the 15 zones.” The Corporation had also requested MPs to address the issue in the Parliament, she added.

Councillor Fathima Muzaffer Ahmed (IUML) called for a probe committee, noting that solely relying on ABC surgeries had not helped.