Bengaluru civic bodies mull stricter target-based surgeries, accountability to strengthen ABC programme

Bengaluru civic bodies plan stricter accountability measures for Animal Birth Control amid challenges in expanding facilities and complying with Supreme Court directives.

In a bid to scale up the Animal Birth Control (ABC) exercise, the Bengaluru corporations are planning to introduce strict target-based surgeries and an accountability system, sources confirmed to The Hindu.

However, the shortage of space in ABC centres, which are currently operational, poses a hurdle to implementing the rule. Officials acknowledged the issue and said they were upgrading the existing ABC centres with additional space and facilities to address the impediment.

Further, the corporations said they were searching for vacant land parcels to set up more ABC centres. However, the exercise has been sluggish.

The move to scale up ABC comes even as the corporations are scouting locations to set up shelters and new ABC centres to comply with Supreme Court directives requiring them to relocate dogs living within institutions (both private and government) to shelters.

“Although there are monthly targets set, the rule was barely followed by the vendors. But this is a primary exercise for curbing bite incidents,” a senior official from the North Corporation told The Hindu, adding that now they are making it mandatory and implementing strict follow-ups.

A dog’s life in Bengaluru