City Corporation identifies one-acre site in Savgaon for permanent facility
Belagavi City Corporation will establish a permanent stray dog sterilisation centre on an identified one-acre plot at Savgaon on the city’s outskirts, civic and district officials said. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan has transferred the revenue land to the corporation to enable construction of the facility, according to official records made available to local media.
The move follows repeated disruptions at earlier sites. Sterilisation operations were previously conducted at a centre in Srinagar in Belagavi, but activities there were halted after opposition from corporator Lakshmi Rathod. The civic body subsequently moved temporary operations to a shed in Hirebagewadi, where surgeries continue for the time being, officials said.
“The proposed site is located away from residential areas and is considered suitable by city corporation health officials,” a municipal note stated.
City Corporation health staff highlighted that the Savgaon location is bordered by cemeteries on two sides and private land on another, factors they say make it less likely to generate friction with nearby residents. The administration has emphasised that the permanent centre will be established at a distance from densely populated localities to reduce potential conflicts and to comply with public‑health and animal‑welfare norms.
- Site: Savgaon, Belagavi taluk (one acre of revenue land)
- Interim facility: Temporary shed at Hirebagewadi — sterilisation surgeries ongoing
- Previous site: Srinagar centre closed after local opposition
- Feeding zones: City Corporation has designated 26 feeding zones across Belagavi
Operational continuity and local concerns
Officials said the corporation had earlier finalised a proposal for the Savgaon centre and submitted it to the Deputy Commissioner for approval; the DC’s transfer of land now clears a key administrative step. Sterilisation operations at the temporary Hirebagewadi shed will continue until the Savgaon centre is ready, the civic body indicated.
Local opposition has previously influenced the location of animal‑welfare activities. The Srinagar facility was shut following protests led by the corporator Lakshmi Rathod, which compelled the corporation to find an alternate, temporary site. City health officers said they are seeking to avoid a repeat by selecting a site with fewer nearby residences and by following official protocols for site selection.
Context: municipal stray‑dog management
Belagavi’s decision forms part of a broader urban animal‑management strategy that combines sterilisation, vaccination and designated feeding zones to reduce human‑animal conflict and rabies risk. The corporation has already established 26 designated feeding zones across the city to manage dog populations and reduce unsupervised scavenging in residential and market areas.
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Proposed permanent centre | Savgaon — 1 acre transferred to corporation by DC |
| Temporary operations | Hirebagewadi shed — ongoing |
| Closed site | Srinagar — closed after opposition |
Officials did not provide a firm timeline for construction or the projected capacity of the Savgaon centre. Municipal health staff will be required to secure veterinary infrastructure, surgical suites, post‑operative observation facilities and procedures for humane handling of animals, as per state animal‑welfare guidelines. Until detailed project and financing documents are published, the corporation will continue to rely on the temporary shed to meet ongoing sterilisation needs.
Residents and animal‑welfare groups in Belagavi have in the past urged transparent planning and community consultation when siting such facilities so that public‑health objectives are balanced with local sensitivities. The corporation’s selection of a peripheral site appears aimed at pre‑empting similar disputes while sustaining the city’s sterilisation and rabies‑control programme.
As the Savgaon project moves from land allocation to implementation, municipal officials said they will provide further details on construction timelines, staffing and service capacity to ensure continuity of the city’s canine population management efforts.
