LUCKNOW, July 10 -- The Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) has announced plans to build a shelter home for stray dogs to address the rising dog menace in the city, informed mayor Sushma Kharakwal during a press conference on Wednesday. The corporation will use AI-enabled cameras to catch stray animals. Officials will soon meet to discuss the technical aspects and challenges of the project, she said. However, the decision has sparked criticism from animal lovers and welfare organisations, who argue that confining stray dogs is inhumane and a violation of existing laws. As per the Animal Welfare Board of India, the management of stray dogs must comply with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001, which mandate sterilisation and vaccination rather than capture and confinement. Animal activists have urged the LMC to withdraw its plan and implement lawful, humane measures instead. Alongside the shelter home initiative, the LMC has also planned a large-scale cleanliness drive on July 10, marking the birthday of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. She said the drive is a tribute to Rajnath Singh and to the city's legacy as the karmabhoomi of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. She added that going forward, one zone will be cleaned each week as part of a new routine campaign. The mayor announced a 20-day crackdown on illegal parking, with cranes deployed by an external agency to tow vehicles from no-parking zones. The current Rs.1,200 fine may soon be increased. Kharakwal emphasised the role of women leadership, stating, "Women leadership is no longer just about representation; it has become a strong foundation for policymaking. We need to empower women representatives through training, budget management, and digital governance." To modernise waste management, LMC plans to set up a waste-to-energy plant within six months. After studying models from cities like Indore and Surat at a national seminar, it aims to adopt similar strategies in Lucknow, said additional municipal commissioner Lalit Kumar....