The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has launched a comprehensive and strict city-wide operation to tackle the persistent issue of stray dogs across Bengaluru. The initiative specifically targets all five municipal limits of the city, focusing on public safety within key institutions.
City-Wide Notices Issued to Institutions
In a significant first step, the GBA has formally issued notices to a vast network of establishments. This includes nearly 6,000 educational institutions and approximately 2,000 government buildings and hospitals spread throughout Bengaluru. The notices instruct these bodies to officially report the presence of stray dogs on their premises to the authorities.
After reviewing the initial responses, GBA Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao directed the commissioners of all city corporations to begin the process of relocating the identified stray animals. He emphasized that public safety and legal compliance are the administration's top priorities in this drive.
Plan for Tunnel Shelters and Funding
The relocated dogs will be moved to designated tunnel shelters. These shelters are planned for municipal dumping yards or on unused government lands. The financial responsibility for creating and maintaining these shelters will fall on the respective municipal corporations.
However, the GBA has suggested that municipalities explore the public-private partnership (PPP) model to manage costs where it is feasible. In a move supporting animal welfare, the authority also noted that recognized NGOs which care for stray dogs may receive financial support as per existing government norms.
Nodal Officers to Ensure Coordination
Providing further operational details, Bengaluru's central city corporation commissioner, Rajendra Cholan, has issued specific instructions to ensure the drive's effectiveness. Officials have been tasked with collecting comprehensive data on stray dogs from a wide range of locations.
This list encompasses all educational institutions, government and semi-government departments, corporations, boards, both government and private hospitals, as well as major public spaces like railway stations, bus depots, playgrounds, and parks.
To streamline the process, Commissioner Cholan has directed that every school, college, hospital, and government organisation must appoint a nodal officer. This officer will be personally responsible for identifying and reporting stray dogs on their premises. Corporation staff will then coordinate directly with these nodal officers to gather information promptly.
"The executive engineers in each division would function as constituency-level supervisors. Through their staff, they must issue notices to all institutional heads and ensure that the required data is collected immediately," Cholan stated.
He added that joint commissioners of both zones and the chief engineers have been asked to monitor the entire process closely and submit consolidated reports to the additional commissioner (development). The GBA has committed to ensuring the strict implementation of these measures across all educational, health, and government office premises in Bengaluru.
