GVMC commissioner Ketan Garg inspects a Animal Birth Control (ABC) centre at Arilova in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: BY ARRANGEMENT
Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) Commissioner Ketan Garg has directed the civic body’s veterinary wing to scale up canine sterilisation operations to 100 per day across the city to manage the stray dog population.The directive was issued during the inspection of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Centre at Arilova in the East Zone on Thursday, along with Chief Medical Officer Dr. E.N.V. Naresh Kumar and City Veterinary Officer Dr. Kiran Kumar.Scaling up ABC operationsReviewing the infrastructure at the Arilova facility, the Commissioner inspected the existing wall-mounted kennels, the under-preparation box kennels, and the operation theatre. He also monitored live surgeries through the closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed at the centre.Officials informed the Commissioner that around 65 to 70 sterilisation surgeries were being currently performed daily across the city’s four ABC centres located at Anakapalli, Arilova, Narava, and Kapuluppada. To achieve the new target of 100 surgeries daily, Mr. Garg ordered site inspections and the drafting of proposals to expand surgical capacities specifically at the Arilova and Narava units. He also mandated that CCTV networks at all four centres be integrated with the GVMC’s City Operations Centre (COC) for real-time monitoring.Standard protocol for straysExplaining the standard operating procedure, City Veterinary Officer Dr. Kiran Kumar told the Commissioner that captured street dogs are kept under observation for a day to evaluate their health. Once cleared, they undergo sterilisation surgery, and a distinct identification notch is made on their left ear.Post-surgery, the canines are sheltered for three to four days and provided meals twice a day. After receiving an anti-rabies vaccination, they are safely released back into the exact locations from where they were initially captured, in compliance with animal welfare guidelines.Crackdown on stray cattleTaking note of the traffic hazards caused by cattle on city roads, the Commissioner directed enforcement teams to impound roaming livestock. He stated that the animals must be provided proper shelter, food, and water, and should only be handed back to their owners after levying hefty penalties as per the municipal regulations.To create dedicated infrastructure for impounded livestock, Mr. Garg instructed Chief Medical Officer Dr. Naresh Kumar to identify suitable land for cattle shelters. He also suggested collaborating with Jain community organisations, who have expressed interest in managing such animal welfare shelters under corporate social responsibility initiatives. Published - May 21, 2026 11:21 pm IST
