Coordination over the programme has been so dismal that the civic corporation and the five non-governmental organisations (NGOs) it had enlisted to undertake sterilisation of stray dogs in the city have met only a few times so far.

Each point their fingers at the other for the slow progress of the programme. While the dog lovers blame the BMC for not providing them with infrastructure for speedy implementation of the programme, civic officials claim that the NGOs make a hue and cry about nothing.

Civic officials claimed that they pay the NGOs Rs 250 per dog to carry out the sterilisation besides free shelter, electricity, water and the employees who will catch the dogs. The NGOs are required to only carry out the sterilisation process. Moreover, neither party have figures for thepopulation of stray dogs or on how many were sterilised. According to health committee chairperson Kranti Sathe the population of stray dogs is between two to three lakh in the city. ``This is a rough estimate since neither the BMC nor the NGOs have the exact figures for the total population or the proportion which has been sterilised.''

A civic official stated that with the dog population in lakhs and only about 5,000 sterilised every year, it will be a long time before the population is brought under control. He added that no proper records of the dogs sterilised were maintained as directed by the Bombay High Court last year.

``A record of dogs captured shall be maintained in a register, mentioning therein the name of the area, locality, date and time of capture, names of persons in the dog squad, details about dogs such as number of male and female dogs and puppies,'' the order stated.

The court had further directed, ``While the dogs are being captured in any locality, the representative of theanimal welfare organisation accompanying the dog squad will make announcements in a public address system that dogs are being captured from the areas for the purpose of sterilisation and immunisation and will be released in the same area after four days.

The announcement may also briefly educate the residents of the area about the dog control programme and solicit the support of all the residents.'' A civic officer informed that this never happened and now with the court exempting NGO member from being present when the dog is being caught, such announcements will not take place.