Activists rue lack of water points for stray animals

Bhubaneswar: Activists across twin cities have raised concerns as stray animals are unable to find water to quench their thirst amid rising temperatures. "Just yesterday, we found a dog unconscious near the Janpath road and there was no water anywhere nearby. By the time we tried to help, it was too late," Priyanka Das, an animal welfare volunteer, said. As per a recent survey by Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, the capital city has over 47,000 stray dogs. In Cuttack, the number has crossed 21,000.In several localities, stray cattle and dogs are seen huddling under parked vehicles or squeezing into narrow patches of shade. "They keep roaming in search of water. Sometimes they enter houses or shops out of desperation," a resident of Nayapalli in Bhubaneswar said."We see dogs panting and sitting under vehicles to escape the sun," Suresh Nayak, shopkeeper in Cuttack, said. The activists have blamed unchecked urbanisation and lack of civic preparedness. "There is no structured effort to provide water points for stray animals during summer. Every year, the situation repeats, despite repeated complaints to the authorities, there is no significant development " Sabita Mohapatra, an animal welfare activist, said.When asked, Bhubaneswar mayor Sulochana Das, Mayor said, "We are encouraging citizens to keep water bowls outside their homes and public places and the civic body is working on expanding awareness and support measures to ensure animals get access to water during summer.""We recognise the challenges and are exploring arrangements for water points so that animals are not left to suffer," Cuttack mayor Subhash Singh.
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