The State Government has sanctioned Rs 54 lakh to feed stray animals in various cities and towns as they are not getting food due to the nationwide lockdown underway for fighting out the coronavirus.
Now, thousands of stray animals are having a hard time finding food as markets, eateries and hotels are closed due to the 21-day lockdown, read a letter sent by the Housing and Urban Development Department to Commissioners of all Municipal Corporations (MCs) and Executive Officers of all municipalities.
It also informed that the State Government has approved Rs 54 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) to five municipal corporations and 48 municipalities for feeding the stray animals during the lockdown period.
While the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been granted Rs 20,000 per day for feeding the animals, the MCs of Cuttack, Brahmapur, Rourkela and Sambalpur would get Rs 10,000 each daily for the purpose, said an official.
He said the municipalities would get Rs 5,000 each for feeding stray animals.
