Chennai, July 18 (IANS) The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has significantly expanded its network of designated community dog feeding areas, increasing the number of authorised locations from eight to 40 across all 15 city zones.
The move comes nearly seven months after the civic body introduced dedicated feeding spots in compliance with Supreme Court directions to regulate the feeding of community dogs in urban areas.
The newly identified locations have been spread across the city, with several zones now having multiple designated feeding points.
Areas covered under the expanded network include Royapuram, Kolathur, Anna Nagar, Koyambedu, Teynampet, Besant Nagar, Tiruvanmiyur, Perungudi, Palavakkam, Neelangarai, Thoraipakkam, Karapakkam and Sholinganallur, among others.
The Corporation had first notified eight feeding locations in December 2025 after the Supreme Court directed urban local bodies to earmark specific places where community dogs could be fed.
At the time, officials had indicated that the long-term objective was to establish at least two feeding spots in each of Chennai’s 15 administrative zones.
Although the number of authorised feeding sites has increased substantially, the supporting infrastructure is still in its early stages.
Signboards identifying the designated locations have been installed only at a few places, while none of the sites currently has a shelter or covered structure to facilitate organised feeding or protect the areas from littering during adverse weather.
The GCC is yet to finalise a standard operating procedure (SOP) governing the use and maintenance of these feeding zones.
Officials acknowledge that limited public awareness has also affected implementation, with many animal feeders continuing to place food along roadsides instead of using the designated sites, undermining the purpose of the initiative.
GCC Veterinary Officer J. Kamal Hussain said the Corporation plans to identify additional feeding locations in the coming months while prioritising the installation of signboards at all approved sites.
He added that discussions were underway to frame detailed operational guidelines and examine the feasibility of constructing covered shelters to improve cleanliness and maintenance.
For now, the civic body has advised animal feeders to maintain hygiene at the designated locations and ensure food waste is not left behind.
However, some residents remain concerned about the impact on neighbourhoods. Residents have urged the Corporation to strengthen monitoring and provide better infrastructure, saying that merely advising feeders to keep the areas clean would not adequately address concerns over waste management and public sanitation.
–IANS
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