Prepare action plan to complete 100% ABC programme for stray dogs in three years: Krishna Byre Gowda
Minister for Bengaluru Development Krishna Byre Gowda instructed Greater Bengaluru Authority’s (GBA) Animal Husbandry Department officials to prepare a comprehensive action plan to complete 100%
Minister for Bengaluru Development Krishna Byre Gowda instructed Greater Bengaluru Authority’s (GBA) Animal Husbandry Department officials to prepare a comprehensive action plan to complete 100% Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme for stray dogs in the next three years. Gowda, said, “At present, the ABC surgery is being performed on about 45,000 stray dogs every year. This target has to be doubled and 90,000 dogs must be targeted in the next three years under the programme.” To achieve this target, expand infrastructure, engage more implementing agencies, appoint additional veterinarians on contract and encourage participation from experienced organisations across Karnataka and the country, he said. The Minister said that despite over two decades of ABC implementation and an expenditure of nearly ₹42 crore over the past five years, Bengaluru continues to face a serious stray dog challenge.
Around 8.8 lakh dogs have undergone sterilisation since 2007, yet the population remains significant. He also pulled up an official from the department for failing to present the data on the expenses incurred for the ABC programme for five years. “There are 19 officials in the Animal Husbandry Department and couldn’t bring data on the ABC programme to the meeting. You (officer) will be relieved from duty immediately,” the Minister said. Priortise old trees and branches The Minister directed officials from the five corporations to respond immediately to the complaints of dry branches and old trees reported by the residents in the city. He said, “Whenever you receive complaints of dry branches and old trees that can fall any time, respond to them immediately. When you can respond to the complaints filed by commercial establishments, why not residents?” He appealed to people to file complaints on the GBA Sahaaya portal instead of filing them in the written format on a plain paper.
“Filing complaints on the portal will help officials and residents to keep a track of these complaints which can be resolved on time,” he added. Recently, a 52-year-old man was critically injured and slipped into coma when a dry branch of a tree fell on his head while riding a motorcycle in Rajajinagar. A similar incident was reported last year in Hanumanth Nagar when a 29-year-old slipped into coma after a tree branch fell on his head. 64,130 tree saplings to be planted this year Meanwhile, Mr. Gowda has set a target to plant 64,130 plant saplings in the current financial year. He instructed officials to prepare a comprehensive plan by actively involving Residents’ Welfare Associations (RWA) and citizens for the maintenance of the saplings. “If the RWAs submit a request for the required saplings, arrangements must be made to supply them and plant them.
The BriefWire