Bhubaneswar: Seven months after the Supreme Court in November ordered that stray dogs be shifted from public institutions to shelters, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been unable to comply because the Khurda administration has yet to provide land for the purpose, BMC sources said.
Supreme Court Reiterates Order
On Tuesday, the apex court reiterated that stray dogs must be relocated from public places while hearing a plea seeking a stay on last year's order. The court's directive has put pressure on the civic body to act, but progress remains stalled.
Land Acquisition Hurdle
Debi Prasad Kund, who is in charge of the animal birth control (ABC) programme in BMC, said, "We are yet to get land for creating a permanent facility, where dogs will be sheltered permanently, unlike a kennel, where they are kept for a limited quarantine period after their sterilisation surgery. Dogs will be provided food and healthcare facilities at these shelters."
BMC officials said they are looking for land to develop three varieties of shelters: one for 100 dogs, another for 500, and a third for 1,000, as per the Supreme Court guidelines. "The dogs will be housed in shelters until their natural death," said a BMC officer.
Previous Identification of Nuisance Spots
Earlier, BMC identified 457 institutions where stray dogs were frequently reported to be creating a nuisance. It then planned a phase-wise catching and rehabilitation in line with the Supreme Court direction. The civic body had asked the institutions to create boundary walls to prevent dogs from entering their premises.
Activist Raises Concerns
Animal rights activist Jivan Dash said rehabilitating stray dogs in permanent shelters is a herculean task as it requires huge funds, manpower, and space. "It is easier said than done. The civic body needs to have a dedicated team like the one for the ABC programme and sterilisation. Keeping cattle, whose number is considerably less than the canine population, is easy. The progress in the past six months is nil in this regard," he said.
The delay in land allocation has left the BMC in a difficult position, with no immediate solution in sight. The Khurda administration's response remains awaited.
