Project for sterilisation of dogs fails to take off
Kuldip Bhatia
Ludhiana, February 10
The project for the sterilisation of stray dogs in the city, which was to get under way today, has been put on hold for the time being on account of the failure of the Amritsar-based firm, Doggie Lane, to obtain mandatory registration from the Animal Welfare Board of the Central government under the relevant law.
According to officials of the municipal corporation, after securing the contract for the sterilisation of dogs, had given a written undertaking to get the registration before taking the work in hand which was scheduled to commence from today.
The MC Commissioner, AK Sinha, said even though the contract awarded to the firm had not been called off as of now, but in the wake of the proliferating canine population, the civic body was also exploring other avenues for getting the work started without delay.
"We have invited the second lowest bidder to take up the work if the firm so desires. At the same time, the matter is also being taken up with Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Science University to explore the possibility of sterilisation of dogs with the assistance of experts and infrastructure available with it," he said.
The firm had not only defaulted in obtaining the registration before undertaking the surgical procedure for the sterilisation of dogs, but doubts are also being cast on the experience and infrastructure facilities available with the firm to carry out the task.
"The firm lacked the required number of skilled and qualified veterinary professionals and also did not have the necessary experience in conducting surgical procedures at such a large scale that are needed to sterilise an estimated 20,000 dogs within the municipal limits of the city," veterinary scientists and animal rights activists have opined.
Confirming that the firm had been instructed not to commence work for the time being, the health officer with the MC, Dr Charanjit Uppal, said the further course of action was being worked out.
MC to kick off dog sterilisation campaign from today
Anupam Bhagria Posted online: Wed May 26 2010, 04:02 hrs, Indian Express
Ludhiana : The Municipal Corporation’s much-awaited dog sterilisation is going to kick off from Wednesday. MC Deputy Mayor Parveen Kumar Bansal said, “Perhaps, this is the biggest sterilisation campaign in northern India, under which 25,000 stray dogs will be sterilised by Doggie Lane, a private company hired by the MC. The entire work, from catching a stray dog to rehabilitating it after sterilisation, will be the company’s responsibility.
The Rs 50-crore project will be completed in two years. Bansal said, “I, along with Mayor mayor is Hakam Chand Gyaspura, will inaugurate the campaign near CFC school on Wednesday. Around noon, the company will demonstrate how to catch stray dogs and carry them to Alamgir village in Ludhiana, where the company has set up a veterinary hospital for the project. The dogs will be released at the same place from where they were caught.”A veterinary doctor, however, said, “The project is no doubt very good but the timing is wrong, as it is very hot these days and chances of bacterial infection will rise. Many other questions regarding surgery remain unanswered, like what method the company will use to ensure that a bitch is not pregnant, as it take 20 days to confirm pregnancy through scanning. If anyone wants to confirm it after a week, a kit of Relaxin harmones is used. Will the company use this kit? There will be chances that many puppies might die before birth while operating.”
As a reply to these queries, Bansal said, “We will not be cruel to any dog and will strictly follow all norms for sterilisation. On an average, nearly 700 to 800 dogs will be sterilised in a month.” The project has been lying pending since last year, when the MC had hired an Allahabad-based company for the pupose but later cancelled its tender. Afterwards, it hired the Amritsar-based Doggie Lane. The dogs will also be given anti-rabies vaccines.
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