BBMP has launched an initiative to feed Chicken Rice to stray dogs in Bengaluru
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has launched an initiative to feed stray dogs across the city. The civic body will serve chicken rice to around 5,000 street dogs by spending an estimated amount of 2.88 crore under this initiative, aiming to address the issue of rising aggression in stray dogs.
According to a recent survey, the city holds around 2.7 lakh dogs. However, the civic body will be able to feed only one-fourth of the stray population. For this, BBMP has launched a tender inviting contractors to supply food to over 4,000 stray dogs on daily basis. The duration of the contract will initially be valid for one year and may be extended further on the basis of performance, subject to approval by the BBMP Chief Commissioner. At least 100 locations have been identified by the civic body to feed the stray dogs, covering specific areas where the food is inaccessible to dogs. Each location will cater to no more than five dogs. Notably, the authorities are hoping to diminish the aggressiveness of stray dogs.
In addition, Fresh water will also be made accessible for the stray Dogs within the feeding sessions till 11:00 am. It was initially launched under the title Kukkir Tihar to encourage community participation in caring for stray dogs as a public awareness campaign.
Interestingly, the BBMP authorities asserted that this initiative has been launched to combat the increasing cases of dog bites and attacks in the city, as an incident occurred last year, where a senior citizen was killed in a stray dog attack in Jalahalli.
Reacting to this initiative in the X’s post, Tamil Nadu Congress MP Karti P Chidambaram wrote: “Is this true? Dogs have no place in the streets. They need to be relocated to shelters, where they can be fed, vaccinated & sterilised. Feeding & keeping them in a free roaming state in the streets is a huge health & safety hazard”.
Additionally, Karti Chidambaram met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 28 at his Parliament House office, emphasising the increasing health and safety risks caused by stray dogs in the country.