Finally, Ahmedabad residents may get relief from dog menace

Ahmedabad residents may have some respite from the problem of menacing dogs as the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has finally swung into action.

The civic body has finalised the names of four agencies to carry out the job. After floating tenders last year and almost finalising on the name of one agency, the new municipal commissioner in August 2011, wanted more agencies to participate in the tender process. The tender floated in July 2011 was the third attempt of the civic body after it had finalised on every aspect; from land, to the vehicles to be used for the work. 

Four agencies, finalised for carrying out the work include, Animal Help Foundation (AHF), Animal Rights Fund (ARF), Animal Protection Club (APC) and People for Animals (PFA). Their names have been sent to standing committee for approval. The committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday to take a call.

Presently, the city has around 3, 15,000 dogs. Speaking to DNA, deputy municipal commissioner in-charge for cattle nuisance control department, Dilip Gor said, “Once AMC provides the necessary infrastructure and facilities, the work will start at the earliest, in a month’s time. We will be able to sterilise around 50,000 dogs of the city in a year.”

While the agencies have been entrusted the work of arranging for surgical equipments, vet doctors, nurses, helpers, cleaners, on the other hand, the work of removing the bio-medical waste after sterilisation will be of AMC. Also, AMC will be providing anti-rabies vaccination to the staff members of the agencies. On an average, 40 dogs will be sterilized on daily basis by each agency for which each agency will charge Rs445 per dog. However, considering the huge number of dog population in the city, it will take minimum two years or more to witness a remarkable difference. 

All agencies, except AHF will be provided land, because AHF was already allotted land earlier to carry out the work, which was later scrapped. AMC had signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) in 2010 for carrying out the task of dog sterilisation in the city. After this followed delays and slow paced work.