The NMC had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government Veterinary College on December 14, 2010, to start the Animal Birth Control ( ABC) programme. As per the MOU, the NMC had agreed to hand over Rs1 lakh to the college authorities as advance to buy medicine and other equipment.
However, NMC paid the college authorities the amount only three days back, after a delay of over three months. An official in-charge of the programme said, "Now that we have received the advance, we can begin work on inviting quotations for medicines. Our work had not begun since we were awaiting the funds. We hope to begin sterilization operations within 8-10 days."
The delay will definitely cost NMC a high price since the dog population in the city has increased since the civic body cancelled the contract given to SPCA and ISAW in August last year. Animal lovers from the city have questioned if the college is equipped to house the dogs postoperation, for the mandatory 72 hours. "The dogs will not be released till the doctors agree that they are fit," pointed out NMC official Milind Ganvir. If NMC traps 20 dogs a day, it will trap 80 dogs in four days. On any given day, the college will have a minimum of 60 days if each dog is kept for three days. NMC will pay the college Rs 445 for every dog that is sterilized. Earlier, NMC used to pay Rs370 for vaccination and Rs 75 for trapping the dog, along with a vehicle, diesel and space to the NGOs free of cost, the official said. Meanwhile, the civic body has released some of the funds it owed to the Nagpur Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Nagpur SPCA). The SPCA had alleged that the NMC had not cleared its dues worth Rs 9.5 lakh for sterilizing stray dogs in the city.
However, NMC paid the college authorities the amount only three days back, after a delay of over three months. An official in-charge of the programme said, "Now that we have received the advance, we can begin work on inviting quotations for medicines. Our work had not begun since we were awaiting the funds. We hope to begin sterilization operations within 8-10 days."
The delay will definitely cost NMC a high price since the dog population in the city has increased since the civic body cancelled the contract given to SPCA and ISAW in August last year. Animal lovers from the city have questioned if the college is equipped to house the dogs postoperation, for the mandatory 72 hours. "The dogs will not be released till the doctors agree that they are fit," pointed out NMC official Milind Ganvir. If NMC traps 20 dogs a day, it will trap 80 dogs in four days. On any given day, the college will have a minimum of 60 days if each dog is kept for three days. NMC will pay the college Rs 445 for every dog that is sterilized. Earlier, NMC used to pay Rs370 for vaccination and Rs 75 for trapping the dog, along with a vehicle, diesel and space to the NGOs free of cost, the official said. Meanwhile, the civic body has released some of the funds it owed to the Nagpur Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Nagpur SPCA). The SPCA had alleged that the NMC had not cleared its dues worth Rs 9.5 lakh for sterilizing stray dogs in the city.
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