Karnataka Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on Tuesday directed officials to prepare a comprehensive action plan to achieve 100 per cent Animal Birth Control (ABC) coverage across the GBA within the next three years. As part of the plan, he asked them to double Bengaluru’s annual stray dog sterilisation capacity from 45,000 to 90,000.
After reviewing animal welfare and urban greening initiatives, Gowda also announced that 64,130 saplings would be planted across Bengaluru in the current financial year. He said the plantation drive would be carried out with citizen participation and stronger monitoring, while also clarifying that the ongoing footpath clearance drive was meant to improve pedestrian safety and not to displace street vendors.
Addressing the media, the Greater Bengaluru development minister said that despite more than two decades of ABC implementation and an expenditure of nearly Rs 42 crore over the past five years, Bengaluru continues to face a significant stray dog problem.
He said around 8.8 lakh dogs have undergone sterilisation since 2007, yet the stray dog population remains high, underlining the need for a more effective and mission-mode strategy.
To meet the three-year target, he directed officials to expand ABC capacity by strengthening infrastructure, engaging more implementing agencies, appointing additional veterinarians on contract and encouraging participation from experienced organisations across Karnataka and the country.
According to a statement issued by the minister’s office, Gowda said, “Every municipal corporation has been directed to prepare a comprehensive plantation plan with active participation from citizens and resident welfare associations, while ensuring the long-term maintenance and survival of the saplings.”
He added that RWAs would be given priority in identifying plantation sites and requesting saplings, with assistant engineers designated as nodal officers to monitor implementation. Expressing concern over poor accountability in previous plantation drives, the minister said that while official records show nearly 20 lakh saplings have been planted since 2008, the ongoing tree census suggests only about 11 lakh trees currently exist.
He directed officials to maintain complete documentation and accountability for every sapling planted, strictly follow prescribed scientific planting standards and ensure proper monitoring of plantation work.
The statement also said, “Citizens have been encouraged to report hazardous trees, dried branches and other tree-related safety concerns through the ‘Sahaya’ application. The online platform will enable time-bound disposal of complaints while allowing citizens to track their status.”
On the footpath clearance drive, Gowda said it was aimed at improving pedestrian safety and was not intended to displace street vendors. According to him, restrictions on vending apply only to about 20 per cent of major roads where pedestrian movement is severely affected, while vending continues to be permitted on the remaining roads. He also urged shop owners to voluntarily remove illegal encroachments from footpaths, failing which action would be taken in accordance with the law.
The minister’s directions covered three areas: expanding Bengaluru’s stray dog sterilisation programme to achieve full ABC coverage in three years, carrying out a monitored plantation drive of 64,130 saplings this financial year, and continuing the footpath clearance exercise with the focus on pedestrian safety.
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