Mumbai, February 26 The Maharashtra government told the legislative assembly on Thursday that the population of stray dogs has increased significantly across rural and urban parts of the state in the last six years.
The government said that as many as 30 lakh dog-bite cases were reported and 30 people died of rabies infection in the state between 2021-23, without providing any data about the current number of stray dogs.
Responding to a question, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that the rise in the number of stray dogs has been observed particularly in Ahilyanagar, Vasai-Virar, Sangli, Bhiwandi, Raigad, Jalna, and Mumbai.
Following the directions issued by the Supreme Court in August 2025 regarding the feeding of stray dogs in public places and sterilization and vaccination drives, the Urban Development Department and the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department issued necessary instructions in November 2025 to all urban and rural local bodies in the state, he said.
Directions have also been issued for the implementation of the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, to ensure the sterilization and anti-rabies vaccination of stray dogs across Maharashtra, Shinde added.
The Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department has issued a Government Resolution dated January 5, 2026, directing authorities to take measures to prevent stray dogs from entering premises under the Tourism Department, he said.
However, Shinde clarified that it is not true that funds have been provided to local self-government bodies specifically for stray dog control measures.