The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) will launch a comprehensive citywide dog census on September 17 in response to the rising street dog menace. The enumeration drive will cover all 67 wards under the civic body’s jurisdiction and continue till September 24.
Massive Exercise Across the City
According to BMC officials, the exercise will involve 420 teams, including Swachh Sathis, sanitation workers, and BMC officials. To ensure accuracy, all participants will undergo a three-day special training programme before the census begins.
The enumeration will be conducted in the early morning hours (5 am – 7 am) when stray dogs are most visible.
Two-Phase Headcount
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Phase 1: September 17 – 20
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Phase 2: September 21 – 24
Teams will visit every street and lane across Bhubaneswar to record the canine population. Currently, the city is estimated to have around 85,000 stray dogs.
Purpose of the Census
The collected data will help civic authorities in:
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Planning animal birth control (ABC) programmes
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Carrying out vaccination drives
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Better management of stray dog populations
BMC officials stated that this is a crucial step in addressing public concerns over stray dog attacks and improving the city’s overall animal management strategy.
