Bhubaneswar plans dog sterilization after citizen advocacy

In Bhubaneswar, the Municipal Corporation (BMC) is taking action to control the growing stray dog population after concerns were raised by citizen reporters. The city's stray dog count has reached around 80,000, doubling since 2022, and residents are worried about safety issues, including dog bites. To address this problem, BMC has activated its animal birth control (ABC) program. The civic body plans to sterilize 50 dogs in the first batch and has enlisted private agencies to assist with the operations. Two facilities are set up for this purpose: one in Mancheswar and another in Sahid Nagar. Sterilization is expected to begin in May. According to Dr. Debi Prasad, a veterinary surgeon, the process involves catching dogs, sterilizing them, caring for them post-operation, and then returning them to their original locations. The facility in Mancheswar can accommodate up to 250 dogs after surgery. Citizen reporters have been vocal about the issue. Jiban Dash mentioned the increasing problems caused by the stray dogs, including more dog bites and conflicts between humans and animals. Biswa Kar pointed out that the BMC may not be properly managing the ABC program. For several months, BMC could not operate due to a new rule from the Animal Welfare Board of India requiring a project recognition certificate. This was implemented last year and affected many areas in Odisha. Despite not being directly involved, BMC's efforts were hampered by legal restrictions.