DNA : BMC appoints three NGOs to sterilise dogs : Oct 29,2007
BMC appoints three NGOs to sterilise dogs
Sandeep Ashar
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has finally approved three non-governmental organisations (NGO) for carrying out sterilisation of stray dogs in the city, offering them Rs600 per 100 dogs sterilised.
Open plots will be allotted to the selected NGOs Animal Welfare Society (AWS), V Team and Royal Veterinarian. The BMC standing committee will discuss in its October 31 meeting the proposal to allot 50,000-sq ft area at Juhu Kapaswadi Cemetery to AWS for a period of 11 months at a monthly compensation of Re1.
Approval of NGOs was delayed by at least two months as the committee wanted to give priority to NGOs that wished to undertake the programme free of cost.
The committee had vetoed the proposal in August as NGOs had protested against the appointment of AWS without tenders being floated. BMC, which had offered to pay Rs1,200 for the work, had to slash it down by 50 per cent after corporators found the cost over-estimated.
The civic health department, which contacted 14 NGOs this time, claimed that none of them, except the three appointed, agreed to abide by the terms and conditions laid down by BMC.
Health department officials claimed that under the new programme, BMC would save Rs1,600 per dog sterilised. The department that previously carried out sterilisation incurred an expenditure of Rs2,200 per dog, the official said. The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) will reimburse the corporation Rs450 spent per dog.
AWS have already constructed 600 cages to shelter 1,200 dogs and 8 air-conditioned theatres, and purchased three vans. Vinod Shekhar, Congress corporator and a committee member, said, Though the two-month delay has led to a decrease in rates offered to NGOs, the number of stray dogs has gone up. The programme must be implemented urgently.
Other NGOs have questioned the transparency of the selection process. Fizzah Shah of In Defence of Animals claimed that this was nothing but contempt of court.
Publication : DNA; Section : mumbai; Pg : 4; Date : 29/10/07
URL : http://digital.dnaindia.com/epapermain.aspx?queryed=9&querypage=1&eddate=10/29/2007&view=nw