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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
No biryani in ₹2.88 crore meal plan for Bengaluru stray dogs, clarifies BBMP
Amid a flurry of online chatter, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has clarified that its new chicken meal plan for stray dogs does not include biryani, Deccan Herald reported. BBMP plans to spend ₹ 2.88 crore annually to feed chicken rice to around 4,000 stray dogs.(HT_PRINT) The civic body issued the clarification on Sunday, responding to misinformation and memes circulating on social media. As part of its broader animal birth control efforts, BBMP plans to spend ₹2.88 crore annually to feed chicken rice to around 4,000 stray dogs across Bengaluru. The food will be provided in areas where capturing dogs or reducing their population has proven difficult. (Also Read: Stuck for 2 hours in Bengaluru traffic, EaseMyTrip co-founder pledges ₹1 crore to fix it) According to Suralkar Vikas Kishore, BBMP's Special Commissioner (Animal Husbandry), 100 feeding spots per zone will be set up across the city, serving food to an estimated 500 dogs daily, all year round. The initiative, he explained, is not a welfare scheme but a population control strategy that aligns with the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, the report added. Meal plan details According to the publication, each dog's daily meal will cost the civic body ₹19 (excluding taxes), with ₹11 covering the cost of chicken rice, and ₹8 allocated for transportation, food supply, and site sanitation. Kishore noted that hungry, food-deprived dogs are more likely to form aggressive packs, often increasing the risk of bites. By ensuring regular feeding, the civic body hopes to calm aggressive strays, making it easier to capture, sterilise, and vaccinate them. The programme has sparked mixed reactions, with some praising the compassionate approach and others questioning the expenditure. BBMP, however, maintains that the initiative is rooted in both public safety and compliance with national animal welfare guidelines. (Also Read: Siddaramaiah, Karnataka leaders pay tribute to Saroja Devi: 'Great loss to Indian cinema')
Time of India
7 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Now, stray dogs in Bengaluru to be fed chicken rice under Rs 2.9 crore BBMP plan; aim to curb aggression, boost public safety
BENGALURU: Chicken rice, taxpayer money, and street dogs are set to converge in an unprecedented Rs 2.9-crore initiative by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), which will soon roll out a daily feeding programme for stray dogs. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The aim: to tame dog aggression and enhance public safety. Starting with 5,000 strays across the city's eight zones, the municipal corporation will deliver one meal a day of 367 grams - a calorie-calibrated mix designed to meet the nutritional needs of a typical 15kg dog. Each Rs 22.42 meal includes: 150g chicken (protein); 100g rice (carbohydrates); 100g vegetables (minerals); 10g oil (fats). This will provide 465-750 kcal of energy. Feeding sites will need to be clean: Official Bengaluru has about 2.8 lakh stray dogs. BBMP will onboard designated vendors to feed selected dogs - 400 to 500 for each zone - at 100 to 125 feeding points in a zone. Cleanliness at feeding sites will be part of the contract, said animal husbandry commissioner Suralkar Vikas Kishore. "This is the first time a municipal body in India has taken up scheduled mass feeding of stray animals," said a BBMP official. "It's not just a welfare step - it's a safety initiative." But the move has sharply divided opinion. While animal rights activists have praised the plan, critics question the wisdom of allocating crores in public funds to feed dogs instead of curbing their population through sterilisation. "My elderly father was chased by stray dogs just last week. Instead of spending crores on chicken rice, BBMP should focus on sterilising and controlling the dog population first. Feeding is not the solution," said Sowmya Ramesh, a resident of Jayanagar in the city. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Kiran Raj from Hulimavu offered a counterpoint: "This is a welcome step. Many of us already feed stray dogs with our own money. If BBMP is stepping in to help, it can make a big difference - provided it's done responsibly and without corruption."
New Indian Express
06-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
BBMP spends Rs 1.48 crore on caste survey so far, Rs 70L on stickers alone...
BENGALURU: Has BBMP spent a whopping Rs 1.48 crore on the survey of SC population in its limits so far? Yes, according to sources in the Palike. It has spent Rs 70 lakh on stickers alone and Rs 28 lakh on raising awareness on the survey through social media platforms. According to Suralkar Vikas Kishore, nodal officer, the projected estimation for stickers, distribution of pamphlets and engaging workers is Rs 1.75 crore. The survey cost may touch Rs 3 crore by the time it is completed. BBMP has launched an elaborate campaign to raise awareness on the survey of SC population through street plays, short films, social media, IEC and other platforms, Kishore said. Sources in the BBMP said that it cost Rs 28 lakh to register 60 lakh views for its two short films on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and other social media platforms. 'Including 18% GST, the palike's spending will be around Rs 49,56,000. It cost Rs 12 lakh to the Palike to hire a camera, cameraman, scriptwriters, voice-over artistes and music,' according to a source. However, many have expressed their reservation over the genuineness of the survey, going by the manner in which it is being conducted and money spent. In many places, enumerators have pasted stickers on doors without collecting details from people living in houses. Incidents of clashes between enumerators and occupants of the houses have also been reported. Seven revenue officials, who were part of the survey, have been suspended for dereliction of duty.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Brand Bengaluru: 19 Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike hospitals set for upgrade at cost of Rs 413 crore
Bengaluru: Tenders are being called for upgrading 19 BBMP hospitals at an estimated cost of Rs 413 crore under Brand Bengaluru initiative. A detailed project report (DPR) for the proposal is in its final stages, said a senior BBMP official. "Once implemented, BBMP hospitals will be equipped to provide emergency care, general medicine, basic surgeries, and dental services to the public," said the official. As per Indian Public Health Standards (2022), urban community health centres are mandated to provide such services. However, until now, they were unavailable at 26 BBMP hospitals. This is the first time the Palike's health department proposed such an upgrade, starting with 19 hospitals. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Fourteen maternity hospitals will be upgraded to 30-bed facilities. Maternity wards will be redesigned, and labs will be established in all locations. Additional wards will be created based on space availability. Five community health centres will be converted into 50-bed hospitals. Modular operation theatres and required facilities will also be built for general surgery and emergency care, BBMP health officials said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Descubra aparelhos auditivos de alta qualidade sem gastar um único cêntimo Aparelhos Auditivo PT Undo "Since implementing the entire plan at once is not feasible, we proposed a three-phase strategy. In the first phase, structurally weak hospital buildings will be demolished and rebuilt. In the second phase, existing buildings will be modernised. The third will focus on enhancing lab infrastructure, increasing bed capacity and providing essential equipment for surgery and emergency care," added the official. Suralkar Vikas Kishore, special commissioner (health), BBMP, said, "This is an ambitious plan to provide quality healthcare services in BBMP hospitals. The DPR will be completed soon. Subsequent steps will follow thereafter."
Time of India
03-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
After civic body ignores warning signs, Bengaluru's electric pet crematorium defunct since April 15
Bengaluru: The city's only BBMP-run electric pet crematorium at Sumanahalli remains defunct since April 15 after its chimney collapsed, damaging the furnace and halting operations indefinitely. Civic officials now say it could take more than a month to repair it, without clarity on when services will resume at the facility. The crematorium's electrical furnace suffered major damage when its rusted chimney, previously flagged as a risk by operators and BBMP engineers, collapsed during heavy rain and strong winds on April 14, allowing water to seep into the system. The BBMP executive engineer (electrical) had identified the corroded structure on Dec 30, 2024, and written to the BBMP executive engineer (projects), requesting immediate inspection and replacement. The request was ignored, leading to the current shutdown. Suralkar Vikas Kishore, BBMP special commissioner (animal husbandry), admitted to the delays. "On April 14, with heavy rain and winds, the chimney fell and water gushed into the furnace, leaving it damaged. Since April 15, the crematorium has been defunct and will take time to repair. It may take a few more months, but there's no clear timeline yet. We are coordinating with private agencies to manage pet burials until our facility is functional again." Built in 15 months for Rs 2.5 crore, the Sumanahalli facility is said to be the third-largest of its kind in India. It serves as the sole public cremation option for stray and pet animals in Bengaluru. The civic body's negligence has drawn sharp criticism from pet parents and animal welfare activists. With no alternative in place, grieving pet owners are turning to private agencies that charge significantly higher fees. Samrudhi Parikshit, who lost her Saint Bernard last week, had to pay Rs 5,000 to a private agency for burial. "If BBMP's crematorium had been functioning, I wouldn't have had to spend so much. It's not just about the money — it's about giving our pets a dignified farewell," she said. Another pet parent, Sandeep Mitraan, said, "When we lose a pet, we're already dealing with grief. Running around looking for cremation options adds to the trauma. BBMP should've acted when it was first warned."
