The Times of India            28.11.2013  

NMC to resume dog sterilization

NAGPUR: With complaints of stray dog menace from residents going up, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation is all set to start animal birth control (ABC) programme. It has identified Society For Animal Protection (Kolhapur) and Vet Society For Animal Welfare and Rural Development (Hyderabad) to take up the responsibility.

Sources said the civic administration has already put up the proposal before the standing committee for its nod. Kolhapur based NGO had implemented ABC programme in Rajkot and Sangli municipal corporations, while the Hyderabad-based NGO had experience of working in Pune and Bengaluru. "The civic body had gathered feedbacks from these cities. After satisfactory reports, civic chief Shyam Wardhane gave his nod to appoint these two," said a source.

At present, there are reports of stray dog menace growing in all 73 wards of city. "It has forced people to carry bamboo sticks and stones while walking or cycling to ward off dogs. I think city's stray dog population has crossed 90,000," said Congress corporator Arun Dawre, who had sought measures to control dog menace during the general body meetings in the past. "All my efforts went in vain. The civic body did not seem serious to tackle the issue," he said.

"Dogs occupy the roads close to chicken and mutton selling stalls, waiting to grab pieces of waste thrown on the roads. It is difficult to walk in these areas," pointed out Arun Jaikar, a resident of Khamla. "Incessant barking of stray dogs at night gives us sleepless night," said another resident.

Sources said the civic body had sent a team of NMC officials comprising veterinary officer Dr G Mahalle for a training programme organized by People For Animal in Ooty in October last year. Later, the administration had stated that the animal birth control programme would be started within a couple of months but that has not happened so far.

In July this year, the civic body shortlisted two NGOs but no one has been finalized. In the past too NMC faced criticism for bogus ABC programme that resulted in increase in population of strays. It led to ABC programme being discontinued. There is a post-operation care unit at Bhandewadi where sterilized dogs would be kept and monitored before being released back. Despite repeated attempts, Dr Mahalle was not available for comments.