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Kolkata Plans Massive Eco-Friendly Shelter for 4,000 Stray Dogs at Dhapa
Kolkata: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has announced a major plan to build one of India’s largest eco-friendly stray dog shelters at Dhapa, aiming to house nearly 4,000 street dogs in a new open-air, sustainable facility.
Deputy Mayor Atin Ghosh recently inspected the one-acre site near the Dhapa wetlands, where the shelter is set to come up by early 2026. Unlike traditional dog pounds, the new centre will use non-concrete, eco-safe materials, keeping in mind the wetland rules of the East Kolkata Wetlands region.
The shelter will include shaded open enclosures, food and water stations, a full veterinary wing, vaccination drives, and a recovery area for injured animals. Officials say this will help reduce street fights, dog-vehicle accidents, and uncontrolled scavenging in crowded neighbourhoods.
Animal welfare groups have welcomed the move, calling it Kolkata’s biggest step toward humane stray management. The project also follows Supreme Court guidelines that prevent illegal relocation and stress sterilization, care, and scientific population control.
KMC is planning a second site near Basanti Highway as well, but the Dhapa hub will be the central model.
Construction is expected to start once final permissions and environmental clearances are approved.
According to senior civic officials, the shelter will be built on a one-acre green belt adjacent to Dhapa Square Miles, a region long associated with solid-waste management. But this time, the purpose is radically different: to create safe, open-air enclosures for nearly 4,000 stray dogs, replacing Kolkata’s outdated and cramped dog pound that accommodates barely 250 animals.
Deputy Mayor Atin Ghosh, who led the November 20 site inspection, described the location as “a turning point for Kolkata’s relationship with its street animals.”
“We cannot talk about being a modern metropolitan city without modern animal welfare,” Ghosh said at a briefing. “This is the beginning of a city that protects the voiceless while respecting environmental norms.”
The Dhapa site was chosen after months of deliberation because it sits on the edge of the East Kolkata Wetlands, a UNESCO-recognized ecological treasure. Its fragile soil prohibits concrete structures, forcing KMC to adopt a modular, eco-sensitive design constructed from sustainable, non-permanent materials.
Eco-Shelter Features: A First-of-Its-Kind Blueprint
The new shelter will function more like a campus than a kennel, with a focus on health, humane treatment, and environmental balance. Early concept plans include:
1. Open-Air Habitat Zones
Large, shaded natural enclosures designed to mimic outdoor living conditions while ensuring safety. These zones will help reduce territorial aggression and allow dogs to move freely without the stress of confinement.
2. Climate-Resilient Construction
No RCC buildings. Instead, the structure will use bamboo frameworks, insulated roofing, and permeable flooring, all approved under wetland norms.
3. In-House Veterinary & Recovery Wing
A team of veterinary specialists will provide:
Vaccinations
Sterilization
Emergency care for injured animals
Short-term rehabilitation for accident victims
This is expected to drastically reduce dog-related road accidents, one of Kolkata’s recurring hazards.
4. Controlled Feeding Stations
Instead of dogs scavenging on streets or piling around restaurants and markets, the shelter will offer designated feeding zones, improving hygiene and reducing stray-human conflict.
5. Community Adoption & Training Arena
KMC is planning weekly adoption drives and volunteer programs, supported by NGOs, to slowly transition eligible dogs into homes.
Legal and Moral Momentum: Supreme Court Directives Push Change
The push for this megashelter did not arise overnight. KMC’s plan aligns with ongoing legal requirements stemming from the Supreme Court’s orders on humane stray management. The court has repeatedly directed state bodies to:
Prevent illegal displacement of street dogs
End harmful practices like culling
Ensure every relocation has a clear record and rehoming plan
Expand sterilization and vaccination programmes under ABC rules
For Kolkata, which is estimated to have 30,000+ street dogs, compliance requires infrastructure of scale, something the old pound could never deliver.
Stray Populations Are Rising. Climate Risks Are Rising Faster.
The immediate urgency stems from Kolkata’s weather extremes. Summers now regularly cross 42°C, while monsoon flooding disrupts food access for stray animals. NGOs report an uptick in cases of dehydration, heatstroke, and traffic injuries among street dogs.
At the same time, rapid commercial expansion has shrunk traditional stray feeding areas, forcing animals onto roads and metro sites. This has heightened accident risks not only for animals but also drivers and pedestrians.
Environmental planners believe the shelter can help stabilize these issues by centralizing medical care and offering structured food distribution.
NGOs Applaud the Move, But Call for Multi-Tier Strategy
Several animal welfare organizations, including the Compassionate Crusaders Trust (CCT), welcomed the project. CCT’s director, speaking to this reporter, called the shelter “the most humane step Kolkata has taken in decades.”
However, NGOs caution that a single megashelter cannot solve the entire problem unless accompanied by:
Ward-wise sterilization drives
Microchipping for tracking
Training residents on humane feeding practices
Regular street health surveys
“This shelter is a giant leap,” the director said. “But the city needs neighborhood-level monitoring to truly transform animal welfare.”
Budgets, Bureaucracy, and Wetlands: The Road Ahead
While the project has garnered excitement, KMC must still navigate:
Wetland protection regulations
Final land-transfer approval
Cost estimates for the modular structure
Hiring of veterinary staff
Coordination with multiple departments
Officials say bidding for construction may begin early 2026, depending on environmental clearance.
A City That Shares Its Streets: Why This Matters
Kolkata has always had a special relationship with its street dogs. They guard tea stalls at night, follow schoolchildren home, nap under yellow taxis, and feature in countless photographs taken on Park Street and Central Avenue.
The new shelter does not aim to “remove” strays from the city but instead aims to bring care, order, and dignity to their existence.
Urban experts say that if executed well, the Dhapa model could guide other cities like Delhi, Pune, and Chennai, where stray numbers are rising and civic tensions are increasing.
Conclusion: A New Humane Chapter for Kolkata
The Dhapa eco-shelter represents more than an infrastructure project; it signals a shift in conscience. It shows that a city long known for its culture, art, and warmth can also lead the way in compassionate urban planning.
As Kolkata prepares for construction to begin, one thing is clear: this is not only a shelter for dogs, it is a blueprint for a kinder, more inclusive city.
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