The BBMP will start the process of catching stray pigs in the city on Wednesday. The civic body has identified pig hotpots in all the eight zones and will start the drive in HSR Layout.

However, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike will not sterilise the animals. Instead, it will sell them to pork shops. According to BBMP officials, they had floated tenders for the job of catching pigs on April.

Dr G Anand, joint director, animal husbandry wing of BBMP, said: “The tenders for catching pigs were floated in April. However, due to the election code of conduct, we couldn’t start the work. Now, we will start catching pigs across the city.”

“Many rear pigs but leave them stray. We have decided to catch the stray pigs and sell them in the market as they are consumed by a section of society. The pigs on the street will be caught and its meat will be sent to the ham shop,” he added.

According to Anand, there are about 5,000 stray pigs in the City.

Most are found in slums and on the outskirts of the city. The BBMP contract states that it will pay Rs 500 for every pig caught, while the contractor needs to weigh the pig meat and pay the civic body Rs 70 per kg of the meat.

Sarfaraz Khan, Joint Commissioner, Solid Waste Management and Health, BBMP, said: “The pigs are reared at houses in the backward areas and slums, and are let loose on the streets to graze.