90k stray dogs in Mumbai; goats worth Rs 1 crore for leopards: Maharashtra MLAs debate human-animal conflict
The Maharashtra government said it would hold multiple meetings with MLAs to discuss the issues of stray dogs in urban areas and leopard attacks in rural areas.
The Maharashtra government has asked for goats to be released in the forests to curb leopard attacks on human dwellings; meanwhile, the number of stray dogs in Mumbai is around 90,757. (File photo)
The Maharashtra government on Tuesday agreed to hold meetings with MLAs to address the growing menace of stray dogs in urban areas and leopard attacks on humans in rural areas, after legislators demanded strict measures during discussions on two separate calling-attention motions on the opening day of the legislature’s Winter Session in Nagpur.
Urban Development Minister Madhuri Misal, in her reply on the calling attention motion over the issue of stray dogs, informed the state Legislative Assembly in a written reply that the number of stray dogs in Mumbai is around 90,757, and the number of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) shelters is limited to eight.
“In municipal corporation areas, the total number of dogs is around 11.88 lakh. While the total number of shelters in all 29 municipal corporation areas is 105,” the reply stated.
BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar raised the need to have more shelters and asked if vacant plots would be used to set up shelters immediately. Misal provided details of how the government machinery is following the Supreme Court order.
Legislators from all parties demanded to know the concrete measures that would be taken up. Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Sunil Prabhu said that even the legislators are not safe from stray dogs when they visit the constituency.
As the MLAs continued with their demands, Misal announced that a meeting with concerned legislators would be held to discuss the issue in detail.
‘Release goats worth Rs 1 crore into forest’
Discussing the calling attention motion on leopard attacks on humans, state Forest Minister Ganesh Naik on Tuesday said he had asked that goats be released in large numbers in forests to stop leopards from entering human settlements in search of prey.
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“If four people are killed in leopard attacks, the state must pay Rs 1 crore as compensation. So I told officials, instead of paying compensation after deaths, release goats worth Rs 1 crore into the forest so leopards do not venture into human habitats,” Naik said, while replying to the calling attention motion raised by NCP(SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad on the issue of leopards attacking humans, as majority of cases are concentrated in Pune, Nashik and Ahilyanagar districts.
“Earlier, they were described as forest animals, but now their habitat has shifted to sugarcane fields. The behaviour and living patterns of leopards have changed. There are no fruit-bearing trees left in the forest areas, due to which…leopard and other carnivores are venturing out of the forest areas. I have asked the forest officials to plant fruit-bearing trees which will keep the prey in the forest itself,” Naik said while responding to a query.
Naik also informed the House that the state government has sent a proposal to the Union government to omit the leopard from Schedule I to Schedule-II.
Objecting to Naik’s response, Nana Patole said, “As a member of Lok Sabha in the past, I had served in a committee related to wildlife issues. I can assure you that Union government will not approve state’s proposal to change the leopards from Schedule I to Schedule II.”
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Independent MLA Sharad Sonawane from Junnar in Pune district said, “Leopards menace is maximum in my constituency where 55 people have died in leopard attacks. There is a rescue centre in my constituency; its capacity should be increased.”
Naik said, “The state has decided to increase the intake capacity of the leopard rescue centre in Junnar. A new rescue centre is also proposed in Ahilyanagar to curb the leopard problem.”
As all party MLAs continued to raise the issue, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced to hold division-wise meetings with MLAs and forest and revenue officials to find out solutions to the issue.
Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra's hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues.
Expertise
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai.
Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the 'hinterlands').
Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including:
State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana).
Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides).
Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC's OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits.
Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness
Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects.
Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards.
Alok Deshpande's rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra.
He tweets @alokdesh ... Read More
