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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Bengaluru civic agency's plan to feed chicken meals to strays sparks debate
Bengaluru: BBMP's initiative to provide cooked chicken-based meals to 5,000 stray dogs in the city has triggered mixed reactions from residents and social media users. Palike, however, maintains that the programme is a legal obligation under Central govt's Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, and aims to reduce dog bites, control aggression, and improve sterilisation success. The initiative, which builds on a feeding scheme started during Covid-19, involves setting up designated feeding points monitored by zonal officials. The food will be made from chicken waste, not premium meat, BBMP clarified, countering online claims that it is providing "chicken biryani" to strays. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru "There is no specially prepared dish. It is made from chicken waste and tailored for canine digestion," said Suralkar Vikas Kishor, BBMP's special commissioner. The meals were developed through vet-approved pilot projects last year. At Rs 19 per dog per day, the programme covers food, transport, and cleaning. The food itself costs around Rs 11. The annual expenditure is projected to be nearly Rs 2.9 crore. Bengaluru has an estimated 2.7 lakh stray dogs, but the scheme will target 5,000 dogs in specific hotspot wards where sterilisation and rabies vaccination efforts are lagging. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo According to BBMP, many zones have already reached 70% sterilisation, and controlled feeding will help improve capture rates for neutering and vaccinations. Critics have questioned whether public funds should be used for such programmes, suggesting the money could be better spent on dog pounds. However, BBMP points out that confinement of stray dogs is illegal under the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) guidelines. The initiative follows AWBI's ABC handbook, which recommends community management of stray dogs. BBMP says the programme's future will depend on results. If there is a measurable reduction in dog bites and improved sterilisation outcomes, it may be continued or expanded next year. BJP's criticism BJP leaders took a dig at the Congress govt over the plan. In a statement, BJP's Bengaluru South district president CK Ramamurthy demanded clarification from BBMP and deputy CM DK Shivakumar. He pointed out that while the midday meal scheme incurs a cost of Rs 12.4 per meal, this scheme is set to spend Rs 22 per dog. "We are not against feeding dogs, but this policy seems like a waste of taxpayers' money," he said. The BJP also accused the govt of misleading people with such schemes instead of focusing on garbage disposal and fixing potholes.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
NMC boosts firefighter training withnew swimming pool at Kalamna centre
1 2 3 4 Nagpur: In a major step towards modernising fire safety training, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has added a state-of-the-art swimming pool at its Regional Fire Training Centre in Kalamna — the only municipal-run fire training institute in Vidarbha. NMC said that the swimming pool was built at the cost of Rs 1.39 crore, with an additional Rs59.86 lakh spent on the filtration system. "It measures 25 by 15 metres and ranges in depth from 1 to 3 metres. It is surrounded by a secure boundary wall and equipped with a filtration plant to maintain hygiene and safety. The swimming pool is expected to significantly enhance the physical endurance and water rescue training of fire personnel, making it a vital addition to the fire training infrastructure in the region," said the civic body. Training in the swimming pool will formally begin soon in two dedicated batches for firemen already serving in the department. NMC officials said the pool will also become an integral part of the regular training curriculum for new fire service recruits. "The centre has steadily grown into a premier institution for fire safety education since its inception in 2016," said the NMC. Spread across 10,883sqmt, the Kalamna centre features a two-storey training facility with offices, dormitories, classrooms, a mess, canteen, drill yard, and tower for live demonstrations. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esti trükk a lapos hasért 50 év felett (fogyj alvás közben) Tudj meg többet Undo It has trained over 14 batches in the last nine years, producing hundreds of qualified firemen now working across the state and beyond. "Earlier, aspirants from Vidarbha had to travel to Mumbai, Pune, or Thane for formal training. The Kalamna centre has ended that necessity and provided local candidates with direct access to certified fireman training closer to home," said an NMC official. Admission is based on a physical fitness test and a 100-mark examination conducted by the Maharashtra Fire Services Academy in Mumbai. The six-month training is conducted in two annual batches — January to July and July to December — with successful candidates receiving certificates from the Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education. Preference is often given to these certified candidates during recruitment across India. Given the ongoing monsoon and staff shortages, NMC has also temporarily appointed 68 trained fire rescuers on a special four-month honorarium basis to strengthen the city's emergency response capabilities. With the addition of the new swimming pool, the Kalamna Fire Training Centre not only sets a benchmark in regional fire safety training but also ensures Nagpur is better equipped to handle emergencies with a well-trained, physically fit firefighting force.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Wheels of Change Jammed: Chandigarh's Bicycle Push Hits Roadblocks
1 2 3 4 Chandigarh: The city's love affair with cycling, which bloomed as the Covid pandemic receded, has turned out to be mere infatuation after all. The Chandigarh administration laid more than 200 km of cycle track across the city but is now struggling to maintain the existing cycle tracks, even though it continues to add more kilometres to the total cycle track length in the city. Similarly, the public bicycle system (PBS), launched in 2020, continues to be paralysed because of vandalism and thefts. In the past year, there have been, on average, two incidents of vandalism and theft every day. The company running the system claims to be suffering major losses. CYCLE TRACKS IN A MESS Potholes or entire stretches missing are increasingly the norm now. "Tracks in the southern sectors, particularly around Sarovar Path and Paschim Marg, are in dreadful condition. In some areas, it is so poor that one cannot move at all on a cycle," said Akhil Bansal, a cycle enthusiast and social worker. Encroachments, both temporary and permanent, dot the cycle tracks. There is little or no effort to remove these. Motorised two-wheelers and parking on cycle tracks are also common. Traffic police are seldom seen removing these vehicles from the tracks. Cyclists have repeatedly complained about the design of the cycle tracks. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You To Read in 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "At most places, it is very difficult to cross the major roads as cycle tracks on either side of major roads and junctions are poorly connected. Similarly, bollards, open manholes, electricity poles, and trees can be seen in the middle of cycle tracks," said Vasant Garg, a Sector 32 resident and avid cyclist. A UT official said, "Regular surveys of the cycle tracks' conditions are done, and repair and maintenance work is being done continuously. " THE PBS The PBS was launched in 2020. Five thousand bicycles at 614 docket stations across the city are available. Ridership numbers have been dwindling and are majorly skewed in favour of only a few tourist spots. At some locations in the city, there are zero users for the service. Since March this year, there has been a sharp decrease in people using the system, and ridership has declined considerably. A spokesperson for SmartBike, the company that established and is operating the PBS, said, "The PBS was developed in four phases at a cost of about Rs 30 crore, entirely invested by SmartBike. The service operates under a public private partnership mode with Chandigarh Smart City Limited and now with municipal corporation Chandigarh." The company was allowed to earn revenue through outdoor advertisement at the docket stations. The spokesperson said, "SmartBike is facing huge losses due to continuous vandalism and thefts by anti-social elements. There have been 700 cases of bike vandalism in the last year alone. Also, more than 50 display panels at the docket stations have been vandalised during this period. Cycles, copper wiring, and LED modules have been stolen. In the last three years, more than 70 complaints have been made to the police in this regard. " BOX Falling PBS ridership Month (2025) | Ridership Mar | 14,651 Apr | 13,401 May | 11,035 June | 11,504 BOX2 PBS Stations with Highest Rides - Top 5 (March 25 – June 25) Stations | Ridership Sukhna Lake | 4,192 Sukhna Club | 3,664 CM House Punjab, Sec-2A | 3,349 Ahuja, Sector 17 | 1,781 Rock Garden | 1,200 BOX3 PBS Stations with Zero Ridership (March 25 – June 25) Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sec-47A Guru Nanak Khalsa High School, Sec-30B Mount Carmel School, Sec-47B Public Park-2, Sec-47A Public Park-4, Sec-47B BOX5 PBS Areas with Highest Incidences of Theft & Vandalism Sector 45, Burail, Nayagaon, Ramdarbar, Maloya, Dhanas, Hallomajra, Kajheri (Sec 52), Sector 47
