BBMP to geotag dog pick-up vehicles

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is planning to geotag dog pick-up vehicles in the city.

The civic body wants to install a geo-positioning system (GPS) in the pick-up vehicles so that it can keep track of the relocation process after sterilisation surgery.

The GPS will be monitored through a fleet management app which will allow officials to keep track of the vehicle. Speaking to DH, Randeep D, additional commissioner, (Admin), BBMP, said the measure was aimed at eliminating allegations of irregularities while dropping the dogs back.

“There have been complaints that the dogs are not let back in their specific area after surgery, which leads to many problems. This is a measure to bring in more transparency in keeping track of the vehicles,” said Randeep.

The BBMP has come under severe criticism from pet lovers, councillors and even Deputy Chief Minister and Bangalore Development Minister G Parameshwara on the rising cases of stray dog menace and botched surgeries under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme.

The civic body is now planning to track the trucks through GPS, along with the project to install microchip collar for dogs, which helps in identifying each dog. The chip will be linked to the software.

“We can even go a step further and update information about every dog that has been treated, its area and so on on the BBMP website,” Randeep said.

The installation of microchip as collars was first thought about by former mayor R Sampath Raj during his tenure. “We are still working on the cost and other processes,” said Randeep.

Blacklisted

The BBMP also blacklisted two organisations for violating norms in birth control treatment. They are Sarvodaya Sevabhavi Samsthe and Animal Rights Fund (ARF).

While Sarvodaya Sevabhavi Samsthe was accused of treating dogs with expired drugs, the ARF was charged with several cases of botched surgeries. “The ARF was involved in cost-cutting process. So it was noted that the quality has deteriorated during surgeries,” said Dr G Anand, joint director, animal husbandry, BBMP.

He also said the payments to the two organisations have been frozen and that the issue has been handed over to the Animal Welfare Department.