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Bhubaneswar: Amid the nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19 outbreak, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started distribution of food and water to stray animals across the city, in what is a noble gesture for the speechless souls.
The initiative which is being carried out under the leadership of BMC Commissioner Prem Chandra Chaudhary to help the animals suffering on streets, will have three vehicles for three zones of Bhubaneswar- North, South and Central.
Staffed with four persons from BMC and Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department, the vehicles started from the sub-divisional veterinary officer (SDVO), Shahid Nagar at around 8 am on Wednesday carrying biryani, khichdi and two drums of water for the dogs and cattle feed for bulls and cows. The vehicles also got utensils to be used to serve the food for dogs and cattle.
[caption id="attachment_443480" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Image Source: Twitter/BMC[/caption]
The service will continue until the lockdown period is in force.
While the capital city currently has got around 1500 bulls and more than 40000 stray dogs, on Day-1 BMC could cover around 1000 stray cattle and 10000 dogs.
Over 8,000 dogs & 800 cows/bulls were provided food and water at more than 200 locations in the city by team BMC.
We are again humbly requesting that extra foods of ur home may please be provided to them. Any interested organisation/individual willing to extend help may contact. pic.twitter.com/lg3KsM3dWI— BMC (@bmcbbsr) April 1, 2020
The civic body has reportedly formulated an SOP for this animal welfare programme and will ensure preparation of food worth Rs 20000 every day for dogs, bulls and cows. As the stray dogs, bulls and cows form the major chunk of the animal population, Rs 12000 and Rs 8000 respectively will be spent on dogs and bulls/cows respectively.
The stray dogs & cows were served cooked food like khichidi/briyani.
This activity by BMC will continue untill the #lockdown period for the stray animals who were finding it difficult to get food.
Let's all do our bit and take care of the stray animals.#CareForAnimals pic.twitter.com/AmZc2Yu6xm
— BMC (@bmcbbsr) April 1, 2020
Notably, the Odisha government sanctioned Rs 54 lakh to feed stray animals in various cities and towns across the State keeping in mind their struggle to find food during the ongoing lockdown.
As per the decision, BMC has been granted Rs 20000 per day for feeding the animals, while the urban local bodies of Cuttack, Berhampur, Rourkela and Sambalpur will get Rs 10000 daily for the purpose. Similarly, all the municipalities will get Rs 5000 each.
It is pertinent to note that the Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department has granted Rs 3.60 lakhs to BMC for food only. Other expenses, if any, would be met by BMC.
However, any organisation desiring to take part in this work cannot distribute the food to stray animals directly. The SOP has asked to contact the deputy commissioner concerned to take part in the programme.
As of now, frontline civil society organisation 'People for Animals' Jagatsinghpur and Nayagarh branch are actively involved in this initiative of the urban body.