Tackling stray dog menace in 3 years

BHUBANESWAR: In a bid to reduce dog menace in the city, the State Government on Wednesday decided to complete sterilisation of street dogs by the next three years. “The State Government has made elaborate arrangements for safe sterilisation of street dogs. An operation theatre, shelter, food for the animal and post-operation care arrangements have been made here,” Minister of State for Fisheries and Animal Resources Development  Ramesh Majhi said.Majhi visited the Animal Resources Institute at Sahid Nagar area here and reviewed the progress in the sterilisation programme. He went round the operation theatre, shelter and took note of post-care operation arrangements in the institute. He said infrastructure in the institute will be upgraded.  About 4,000 dogs have been sterilised with financial assistance from the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC). Majhi said Rs 500 would be spent for sterilisation of each stray dog. The institute was asked to undertake sterilisation operation on at least 60 dogs every week in order to achieve the target, the minister said, adding that health care units for animals would be operational in and around Bhubaneswar. Majhi said a budget estimate of Rs 50 lakh has been made for upgrading the operation theatre and setting up dog shelter. The minister said 30 animal treatment camps were organised at Bhubaneswar, Jatni, Balipatna and Balianta by the department where 2,250 animals were treated. He directed the department officials to regularly organise such camps to provide health care to the animals. Among others, joint director of Animal Resources Development department Uma Shankar Patra and senior officials were present.