India, July 29 -- Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for a modern dog shelter at Sector 29, Dwarka, to be developed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Spread across nearly 6,050 square metres, the facility aims to provide safe shelter, medical care and rehabilitation for stray dogs through modern infrastructure designed to improve animal welfare. The foundation stone was laid in the presence of Delhi Mayor Pravesh Wahi, South Delhi MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, Najafgarh MLA Kailash Gahlot, MCD Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar and other senior officials. Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor said the project would be developed entirely through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) support from the GMR Varalakshmi Foundation, ensuring that the MCD would not incur any expenditure. He described the initiative as a successful example of public-private partnership and appreciated the Foundation's contribution towards strengthening animal welfare in the Capital.
The Lieutenant Governor directed that the shelter's operational strategy should be prepared in consultation with all stakeholders, including animal welfare groups, dog lovers, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), non-governmental organisations, veterinarians and subject experts. He said their experience would help ensure that the facility functions on scientific and compassionate principles. During the visit, the Lieutenant Governor also inspected Delhi's only cremation centre for small animals and reviewed its facilities. He emphasised that both the dog shelter and the cremation centre should be managed with empathy and not merely as civic infrastructure projects. Officials said the upcoming shelter would provide a safe environment for stray dogs while supporting their treatment, care and rehabilitation. The project is expected to become a model facility for humane and scientific management of stray animals in Delhi. The civic authorities said the initiative reflects the city's growing focus on animal welfare and underlines the belief that urban development should also be measured by the care extended to vulnerable and voiceless animals.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.