Odisha Govt Urges Civic Bodies to Make Necessary Provision for Feeding Stray Animals during Lockdown

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government today urged the urban local bodies (ULBs) to make necessary provision for feeding stray dogs and other animals during the lockdown period.

Due to the resurgence of COVID-19 pandemic resulting in lockdown in the State, thousands of stray animals will have a hard time for finding food leading to starvation and other consequential issues. Hence, the civic bodies have been asked to make necessary provision of food for the stray animals during the lockdown period, the Housing and Urban Development Department said in a letter to all ULBs.

For this purpose, the civic bodies may co-opt and partner with organizations working for animal welfare in their areas. In case of non-availability of such organization, the ULBs can do this with in house resources or Mission Shakti Groups/Federations, the H&UD Department insisted.

The ULBs have been instructed to the expenditures out of the funds available with them from various sources, including own source revenue or subject to recoupment from SRC/CMRF sources, it added.