Agartala, February 10, 2026: Secretary of the Animal Resources Development (ARD) Department, Deepa D Nair, on Monday said that the Government of Tripura has intensified measures for the management of stray animals on public roads and stray dogs, strictly in compliance with the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court dated November 7, 2025, in Suo Moto Writ Petition (Civil) No. (S) 5 of 2025.
Addressing a press conference here today, Nair said the Supreme Court has mandated the implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, which provide for sterilization and vaccination of stray dogs at designated ABC Centres and their sheltering in properly designed shelter houses. She said the programme is being implemented by local bodies, including municipal bodies, with technical support from the ARD Department and registered Animal Welfare Organizations.
She informed that instructions have been issued to Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC), other municipal bodies and local bodies to establish ABC Centres and shelter houses with the support of animal welfare organizations and the ARD Department. AMC has already set up helpline numbers and dedicated teams with trained staff to carry out these activities.
According to her, an ABC Centre has been established at Hapania, while the ARD Department is running a shelter house at RK Nagar with the assistance of an animal welfare organization. Other municipal bodies are also taking similar initiatives in coordination with the department. As per the 20th Livestock Census, 2019, Tripura has 17,078 stray dogs and 3,361 stray cattle.
Nair said special attention is being given to prevent the presence of stray dogs in sensitive public places such as educational institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, bus stands, depots and railway stations. These premises have been identified, nodal officers appointed and cleanliness drives are being carried out to discourage stray dog movement. Quarterly inspections are being conducted by municipal bodies and Panchayati Raj institutions.
She further said coordinated inter-departmental drives involving NHIDCL, PWD, municipal authorities, the Transport Department and district administrations are underway to manage stray animals on public roads. High-risk stretches on national and state highways have been identified, highway patrol teams deployed for round-the-clock surveillance, and helpline numbers prominently displayed for public reporting. Stray animals are being relocated to designated shelters and gaushalas with assured feed, water and veterinary care.
The ARD Secretary added that all hospitals are maintaining mandatory stocks of anti-rabies vaccines and immunoglobulin, and awareness programmes on animal behaviour and bite prevention are being conducted in schools. Planning for further infrastructure development and manpower augmentation will be taken up in the next financial year.
She also appealed to the public to ensure humane treatment of stray animals, responsible pet ownership, timely vaccination, non-abandonment of pets and support for shelter houses, especially during festivals.
Meanwhile, ARD Director Neeraj Kumar Chanchal informed that in cattle smuggling cases, 832 cattle are currently housed at Devipur farm, 819 at Muhuripur farm and 436 at Dharmanagar farm, all rescued from within and outside the state over the last one and a half years.
