Berhampur: Stray cattle wandering on roads and the growing menace of street dogs have disrupted daily life in Berhampur, the main commercial hub of Ganjam district.
To address the issue, the Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) recently held a meeting on its premises.
The meeting held Wednesday was chaired by Deputy Commissioner Ashirbad Parida.
Commissioner Prathamesh Arvind Rajshirke emphasised the need for a 24-hour animal ambulance service in the city.
In the meeting, it was decided that cattle owners will be instructed not to leave their animals on the streets.
If the directive is ignored, the cattle will be taken away and kept temporarily in shelters.
Owners reclaiming their animals within 15 days will have to pay a fine of Rs 2,000.
If the animals are not claimed within the period, they will be permanently shifted to the Goshala (cattle shelter) at Hugulapata, BeMC officials said.
The corporation also resolved to begin the sterilisation of stray dogs to control their population.
To curb the stray dog menace, BeMC officials will catch dogs using special vehicles, place them in kennels at the veterinary hospital, sterilise them, and release them back on the streets.
Commissioner Rajshirke has directed that the sterilisation programme be conducted four days a week.
The corporation also decided that strict disciplinary action would be taken against anyone who obstructs the process.
Among those present at the meeting were BeMC Mayor Sanghamitra Dalei, Deputy Commissioner Bibhu Prasad Mohapatra, corporators T Kishore Kumar Patra and Sanjit Panigrahi, executive engineer Sushanta Dungudungu, junior engineers Srutika Patra and Sabitri Padhi, assistant clerk Sanjukta Jena, Berhampur livestock officer Dr Satya Narayan Kar, additional district veterinary officer Dr Biswajit Rout, sub-divisional livestock officer Dr Arabind Behera, SPCA and BeMC ABC committee member Lalatendu Choudhury, Srikrishna Goshala secretary Sushanta Behera, animal care worker Siluprabha Rath and social worker Anil Kumar Choudhury.
PNN
