Lokayukta pulls up civic bodies over stray dog menace, seeks time-bound compliance

The Karnataka Lokayukta on Thursday came down heavily on civic authorities in the Greater Bengaluru Area for failing to file comprehensive compliance reports on curbing the stray dog menace, warning that directions of the Apex Court must be implemented in letter and spirit.

The observations were made while hearing a suo motu case registered on August 31, 2024, following the death of a 76-year-old retired teacher who was mauled by a pack of stray dogs on the Air Force Station residential campus at Jalahalli East.

The Chief Commissioner of the Greater Bengaluru Authority submitted a consolidated report stating that over 1.5 lakh dogs had been vaccinated and funds earmarked for shelter construction. However, the Lokayukta observed that most actions remained at tender or land identification stages, and emphasised the need for expeditious and scrupulous compliance to ensure citizen safety while also safeguarding animal welfare.

While the South City Corporation submitted a comprehensive report on measures taken, the Lokayukta pulled up the four other corporations for not doing enough and their reports being incomplete.

The corporation said that the capacity for sterilisation had been significantly increased. About 4,075 doses of Anti-Rabies Vaccine (ARV) were available and land at S. Bingipura has been identified to shelter 500 dogs. It also said that work orders were already issued for building shelter homes. The commissioner assured that shelter construction would be completed within a month.

Officials of the North Corporation claimed that tenders for sheltering 500 stray dogs would be finalised by March 7. Proposed construction of an ABC centre at Mahadevapura in East Corporation costing ₹430 lakh and identification of land at Basavanapura were still at the tender stage.

The Lokayukta found reports filed by the North, East, West and Central corporations incomplete. Reports filed by the Chief Executive Officers of Bengaluru Urban, Rural and South Zilla Panchayaths were also found lacking in comprehensive details, especially regarding establishment of shelter homes and adherence to the Supreme Court directives.

All authorities have been directed to file comprehensive compliance reports by April 30 and the matter will be heard on May 8.