KMC marks 487 stray-feeding zones with pre-7am, post-7pm time slots
Times of India | 13 August 2025
Kolkata: The KMC has demarcated 487 feeding zones for stray dogs in all its wards across 16 boroughs in the city, following a Calcutta High Court order. Feeding strays outside the designated zones would be "a punishable offence and might attract a penalty", said KMC officials.
The civic body has also rolled out an SOP, which mentions people, after feeding dogs on roads, should dispose of the leftover food properly. Among the places, where the stray feeding zones have been marked out are Shyampukur Street, Convent Lane, Pathuriaghata Street, Mott Lane, the Lake, Manohar Pukur Road, Hazra Road, New Alipore and the road near Taratala Brace Bridge. The stray animals can be fed at the demarcated spots in two slots, once before 7 am and then, after 7 pm. Each feeding session should be limited to two hours. The KMC health department, which looks after dog squad and related services for managing strays in the city, formed a borough-wise committee last year for the implementation of the HC order to ensure each of the city's 144 wards has specific spots for feeding strays. "To implement the HC order, we sought the boroughs' recommendations on feeding spots. The boroughs chose and listed the spots and accordingly, we started designating the zones from last year. Currently, all the boroughs have feeding zones for strays. We request the feeders to keep the place clean," said a senior health department official. "While marking the feeding zones, we avoided residential or crowded areas and playgrounds, where children play, as much as possible.
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| Gold Rates Today in Kolkata | Silver Rates Today in KolkataDuring the hearing of a case filed by a man, who was allegedly assaulted for feeding street dogs and cats in Joynagar, the court cited a KMC order pertaining to designating particular locations to feed strays and asked the state if it could be implemented by all urban municipalities.
Some animal activists flagged the issue of canine groups fighting when several dogs are fed in one place. Susmita Roy, who runs an animal hospital in Taratala, said, "Marking of stray feeding zones by the civic body was much needed. But the KMC needs to ensure distance between two feeding zones along one road. Each kennel of dogs maintains a particular territory and when other dogs enter that domain, the group fights start.
"Radhika Bose, managing trustee of an animal rights organisation, CAPE Foundation, said, "Some people leave the place without cleaning after feeding strays, causing inconvenience to others. We feed street dogs in demarcated zones at different areas, like Hazra and New Alipore.
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