BBMP plans ₹14 crore project for stray dogs, faces criticism

Despite public concerns over the growing stray dog menace, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is moving forward with a plan to allocate taxpayer money for feeding and managing stray dogs. The 2025-26 budget proposal includes ₹2 crore for feeding stray dogs and ₹12 crore for sterilization and treatment. However, allegations have emerged that this initiative is a scheme to pocket commissions. Earlier, BBMP’s Animal Husbandry Department launched a stray dog feeding program in collaboration with private entities, claiming no public funds were involved. However, authorities later expanded the program across all Assembly constituencies. Now, officials are considering using tax money, despite lacking clarity on how much food is actually being provided. Under the new proposal, ₹2 crore will be spent on feeding stray dogs across 1,000 designated locations in the city. Each location will cater to at least five dogs, with provisions for feeding bowls and signboards. BBMP’s dual approach has drawn criticism—on one hand, it is funding the care of stray dogs, while on the other, it is allocating crores for population control. Apart from sterilization, the budget also includes ₹4 crore for vaccinations, ₹7.5 crore for setting up sterilization centers, ₹5 crore for purchasing vaccines, and ₹60 lakh for constructing shelters. The Animal Husbandry ”Department has now sought an increased budget of ₹60 crore for 2025-26, significantly exceeding its usual ₹20 crore allocation, raising further concerns over financial transparency.