‘Where Has The Money Gone?’: Bengaluru Minister Slams Officials Over Rising Stray Dog Numbers
Bengaluru : Karnataka minister Krishna Byre Gowda openly expressed his anger at Animal Husbandry Department officials during a review meeting in Bengaluru, questioning the effectiveness of the state’s long-running dog sterilisation programme and demanding accountability for public funds spent over the years.
The heated exchange took place during a meeting focused on the growing stray dog population in the city. Despite nearly two decades of animal birth control programmes, Gowda pointed out that the number of stray dogs appears to have remained almost unchanged — raising serious concerns about whether the programme has delivered any real results.
A visibly frustrated Gowda questioned the preparedness of the 19 officials present at the meeting after discovering that none of them had brought detailed records or essential data about the department’s work. He reportedly lost his patience when officers failed to provide even basic figures on expenditure, sterilisation numbers, or the impact of the programme over the past five years.
“Why have you come to the meeting without data? Nineteen officers together cannot bring proper information?” the minister reportedly asked, expressing disbelief over the lack of accountability.
The minister’s frustration deepened as he questioned how huge amounts of public money could have been spent for years on sterilising stray dogs, yet their population in Bengaluru continued to remain high. He demanded a complete breakdown of expenditure and performance data, asking officials to explain the gap between government spending and ground-level results.
According to those present, some officials attempted to answer his questions, but their responses were seen as vague and lacking clarity. Gowda dismissed these explanations, saying they did not justify the money spent or the failure to control the stray dog issue effectively.
In a strong move, the minister reportedly ordered the immediate suspension of the officer responsible for failing to present proper data during the meeting, making it clear that negligence and poor preparation would not be tolerated.
At the same time, Gowda directed the department to double the animal birth control programme, increasing the number of dog sterilisations in an attempt to address the issue more aggressively.
The minister also used a Kannada idiom during the exchange, saying, “Do you think I am sitting here with flowers in my ears?” — a phrase used to indicate that he would not be easily misled by weak excuses or incomplete explanations.
Krishna Byre Gowda, who represents Byatarayanapura in Bengaluru, has built a reputation for taking strict action against officials and contractors over poor performance.
Earlier this month, he had suspended an officer and fined a contractor after personally inspecting road construction work and finding it to be of poor quality. Sharing the incident publicly, he said officers and contractors must take their responsibilities seriously or face consequences.
The latest incident once again highlights the growing concern over stray dog management in Bengaluru, where citizens frequently raise complaints about increasing dog bites and public safety issues. With the minister now demanding stricter oversight and faster action, attention will likely shift to whether the department can improve transparency and deliver better results in the coming months.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
