Bhubaneswar, Aug 23: In response to the Supreme Court’s revised directive on stray dog management, the Odisha government has announced a comprehensive action plan through the Department of Fisheries and Animal Resources.

Gokulananda Mallik, Minister for Fisheries and Animal Resources Development, confirmed that the state will strictly adhere to the court’s instructions.

Shedding lights on the development, Mallik said that the department will soon begin a statewide census of stray dogs, followed by sterilization and vaccination drives. After sterilization, the dogs will be released back to their original locations. Aggressive or diseased dogs will be shifted to designated shelters for care and containment.

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According to official data, Odisha currently has around 7 lakh stray dogs and 64,000 pet dogs. To prevent feeding of stray dogs on public roads, municipalities have been directed to launch awareness campaigns. Citizens will be discouraged from feeding dogs on streets and instructed to do so only at designated spots.

Additionally, the government has issued strict guidelines prohibiting the slaughter or cooking of chicken and mutton in public areas. Vendors must carry out such activities only in authorized locations. Feeding stray dogs with leftover meat or bones on roadsides has also been banned.

All municipalities across the state have been instructed to enforce these rules and ensure public hygiene and safety. The move aims to reduce dog-human conflict, control stray dog populations, and improve urban sanitation.