Residents in Ahmedabad who enjoy feeding stray dogs or birds in public spaces could soon find themselves facing fines. The Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has launched a new initiative to limit feeding activities to specific designated zones throughout the city.
Officials have pinpointed around 300 spots where residents can feed animals, aligning this effort with a broader cleanliness campaign underway in the city. Previously, only 126 dog-feeding locations were recognized across the city’s 48 wards. Responding to requests from animal lovers and regular feeders, AMC has now added an additional 25 sites.
Naresh Rajput, an official from the AMC’s CNCD department, explained that areas already popular for feeding will be included on the updated list. “Areas where regular feeding already takes place have also been included,” Rajput noted. To guide residents, signboards are being put up at these designated locations.
The move aims to regulate animal feeding and transition it away from random public spots. Officials pointed out that unrestricted feeding can lead to safety concerns and hygiene issues. Dogs congregating at these spots sometimes fight, chase pedestrians, or obstruct traffic—leading to potential accidents.
Changes have also been made along the Sabarmati Riverfront concerning bird-feeding sites following directives from the Gujarat High Court. Currently, only five bird-feeding locations remain operational there.
Civic authorities emphasized that while they support responsible animal care, they need to maintain public health standards and safety on roads and footpaths. Key identified locations include municipal crematoriums and drainage pumping stations across various city sectors as well as areas near Maninagar Swaminarayan Temple and Madrasi Temple.