Even as the civic body gears up for the latest onslaught on the healthy population of rats and stray dogs in the city, a Herculean task by the admission of official sources, there is a gnawing realisation that rats have brought the fight to its headquarters, the Ripon Buildings.

In the past 10 days, more than 200 rats have been killed in the building using pesticides. Aware that getting a fix on the rat population is beyond the scope of any sort of census; official sources admit that there is a long-drawn tussle ahead. While this battle is on, the corporation also has a dogfight to contend with.

The rats cause maximum damage to the footpaths and do not spare even the recently laid structures in Central Chennai, which have been dented due to burrows under these footpaths, say official sources.

Rajesh Lakhoni, the civic body commissioner, says, “The Chennai Corporation, which came out with a new initiative to eradicate rats in the city using vegetables laced with toxic gum has now planned to modify the schedule as a more efficient system is required to kill the rodents.” Soon the project will be expanded along the Otteri Nullah in north Chennai as the locality is noted for pest menace, he adds.

The objective of the project, which will cost about Rs 10 lakh, is to control the rat population and to reduce the incidence of leptospirosis and keep plague at bay. The private firm entrusted with eliminating the rats will be paid between Rs 2.5 and Rs 5 per kill.

Talking about efforts to control stray dogs, Mr Lakhoni says their status is under control. Stray dogs and cats are periodically operated for birth control and the civic body spends Rs 700 for each animal that is operated, he adds.