BBMP denied control of veterinary hospitals

The BBMP had proposed that it take over veterinary hospitals in the city.

By Sankar C.G.

BANGALORE (Feb. 2)—The proposal by Bangalore’s municipal corporation to bring veterinary hospitals under its control has been rejected by the Karnataka Animal Husbandry Department apparently due to a disagreement over asset management and funding.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike in 2010 sent a letter to the Karnataka Animal Husbandry Department expressing its willingness to take charge of all veterinary hospitals in urban Bangalore.

These hospitals were being neglected by the government, in terms of fund allotment and other basic amenities provision.  But rural veterinary hospitals developed through a scheme called Opening Polyclinic, through which zilla panchayats (district councils)  could provide funds directly to rural veterinary hospitals, according to Parameshwaran, deputy director of the BBMP’s Animal Husbandry Department.

“Other hospitals in the urban areas have been excluded from all the progressive measures,” he said.
Karnataka Animal Husbandry Department asked the BBMP to improve the conditions of the veterinary hospitals in urban Bangalore.

Veterinary hospitals in  three areas—Cantonment, Rajajinagar and Chamarajpet—had almost been put under the BBMP’s jurisdiction on condition that all assets of each hospital should be transferred to the BBMP and an annual allocation of fund. But the BBMP’s proposal was rejected at the last moment. The state’s animal husbandry department decided to give responsibility for all the urban veterinary hospitals to the Karnataka Veterinary Animal and Fishery Science University.

“We know why they have taken such a decision. They cannot provide annual fund for looking after these hospitals. For

maintaining these hospitals, 120 lakh rupees (Rs. 12 million) is needed. We cannot take the charge as a burden without getting funds,” Parameshwaran said.

“Now these hospitals have not been taken under any university and are still intact,” he added.

Karnataka Animal Husbandry Department happy with current status

Dr. Sreeram, deputy director of veterinary hospitals in Bangalore, said that if the Karnataka Animal Husbandry Department received better facilities, it could provide a “better service to society.” He said he did not wish for the department to be taken care of by the BBMP.

“We are happy with the existing system and we don’t have any grievances.  We could adjust with existing facilities,” Sreeram said.

Veterinary doctors feel that their hospitals are in a sorry state.

He believes that the veterinary department is not given much importance because it does not provide the government with much revenue, unlike the Excise Department and other revenue-rich departments.

Veterinary doctors worried

Doctors in veterinary hospitals across the city are anxious about the current state of these hospitals.

“The medicines that are given by the government run only for a maximum of 40 days,” said Dr. Raveendhran from Kengeri Veterinary Hospital. “The whole remaining year we have to maintain by ourselves.

He added that the state government does not meet veterinary hospitals’ requirements, only providing them with meager amount of medicines, surgical instruments and medical equipment. The state government does not provide funds for any “rejuvenation work,” he said.

This conflict between the BBMP and the state’s Animal Husbandry Department continues amid Bangalore’s veterinary hospitals’ struggle to deal with their daily tasks.