Busy in solid waste dept, NMC vet sterilized ‘0’ dogs in 11yrs

Nagpur: Dr Gajendra Mahalle, the permanent veterinary doctor with Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), has not done sterilization of a single stray dog during his over 11 years service in the civic body. He has also not included his name in the proposed animal birth control (ABC) project.
Dr Mahalle claimed NMC is setting up a centre at animal shelter located adjacent to Bhandewadi dumping yard for sterilization and immunization of stray dogs. He also said that veterinary doctor and para-vet appointed on a temporary basis will sterilize 5-10 stray dogs in a day.
TOI had reported that population of stray dogs increased to around one lakh in the city due to failure of NMC in conducting sterilization on a regular basis and non-compliance of guidelines of Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI).
On his experience with sterilizing dogs, Dr Mahalle told TOI, “I have not sterilized a single stray dog since joining the civic body in May 2011. I performed sterilization on over 10,000 stray dogs during my service with private companies before joining NMC,” he said.
Dr Mahalle has also attended training and workshops organized by the government for effective implementation of ABC Rules-2001.
The NMC official didn’t say anything about whether he will be performing sterilization in the under-construction NMC centre.
For the last few years, Dr Mahalle has been looking after solid waste management (SWM) works because in NMC the veterinary section comes under health department (SWM).
Though there is no connection between SWM and veterinary education, Dr Mahalle has been working as deputy commissioner of SWM for the last one year. He is in-charge of door-to-door collection of garbage, sweeping of roads across the city, over 7,000 sanitary workers, Bhandewadi dumping yard etc.
General body had decided to terminate services of two garbage operators — BVG India and AG Enviro — citing irregularities, poor services and violations.
Leader of sanitary workers’ union, Kishor Samundre, alleged that whether it’s SWM or veterinary field, “Dr Mahalle is not working properly”. “SWM is in a bad condition and city’s Swachh Bharat Mission ranking is falling every year. There is no control over cattle on roads. Also, increase in population of stray dogs is leading to human-canine conflict,” he said.
Citing incidents of a pregnant cow at Indora in June and seriously injured dog in Wadi not getting any help, Shiv Sena activist Gauri Sawarbandhe claimed “NMC lacked facilities and Dr Mahalle failed to respond every time”.
Advocate Ankita Shah alleged that Dr Mahalle does not have knowledge of AWBI guidelines and his decisions always go against animal welfare. “Dr Mahalle also failed to properly plan sterilization and immunization of all stray dogs. There are no proper facilities for collecting, transporting and treating injured cattle or stray dogs. There should be an independent department for veterinary services, dog control cell, sufficient number of veterinary doctors including Dr Mahalle and staff to address the problem of strays,” she said.