No ‘biryani’ in the tender document: BBMP clarifies on street dog menu

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Sunday stated that the street dog feeding programme is a continuation of the initiative launched during the COVID-19 pandemic and is now being expanded in line with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, issued by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI).

The civic body said that it has invited tenders for the supply of balanced meals to be served at designated feeding points across each zone, identified and monitored by the respective Assistant Directors.

The initiative is aimed at improving public health by curbing the spread of zoonotic diseases from dogs, addressing dog bite issues, and aiding the city’s ongoing efforts in sterilisation and vaccination of street dogs, according to the BBMP. Feeding makes it easier to catch the feral dogs, said the civic body.

Of the estimated 2.7 lakh street dogs in Bengaluru, only around 4,000 of the most food-insecure are being targeted under this initiative. Feeding will take place at 100 points per zone, covering 500 dogs per zone, once a day, throughout the year, said the BBMP.

The total estimated cost of the project is ₹2.88 crore annually, with a per-dog daily cost of ₹19 (excluding taxes). This includes ₹8 for logistics and ₹11 for food. Meals will consist of boiled chicken, rice, and vegetables, based on veterinary advice. 

Officials clarified that the term “biryani” does not appear anywhere in the tender document. “As dogs are carnivorous, the meals will be nutritionally balanced, consisting of boiled chicken (for protein), rice, and vegetables. This combination is designed to be suitable and easily digestible for street dogs,” the BBMP said.

The clarification came amidst criticism from certain sections, including the opposition BJP, flaying the civic body for offering “chicken biryani” to dogs.

Approximately 70% of BBMP wards have achieved sterilisation targets, but feeding is being strategically focused in areas where dog-catching remains difficult or bite incidents persist, according to BBMP.