NMC - Government calls special cabinet meeting

NMC - Government calls special cabinet meeting
A special cabinet meeting on Friday will discuss the proposal for an increase in the number of seats of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). The urban development (UD), in consultation with the SEC, has proposed to increase the number of seats from the existing 136 to 145 on account of increase in population in the area covered by NMC.

As per provisional census figures released recently, the population within the corporation's limit has shot up from 10 lakh in 2001 to 24 lakh in 2011. The SEC had earlier decided against increasing the number of seats in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), where the population rose by 4 lakh during the corresponding period.The number of seats in BMC will remain constant at 227.

The decision to convene a special cabinet meeting was taken on Thursday evening. Elections for NMC and BMC are scheduled for February next year. According to senior officials, the process of deciding the number of wards got delayed since provisional figures for the census were only released recently.

The SEC will initiate the process of finalising the ward structure after an ordinance for the increase in the number of wards is issued.

NMC's stray dog sterilization programme put on hold

The Nagpur Municipal Corporation's (NMC) stray dog sterilization programme has been stalled for the next few weeks at least. The multi-crore project that aims to limit the number of stray dogs on city streets was not observing norms set down for Animal Birth Control (ABC), claimed city-based NGO People For Animals (PFA). Pursuant to this, NMC officials are studying the system in Mumbai before reformulating the programme here.

"Stray dogs were being operated upon and released the same day. According to the rules, they should be kept in hospital for at least 72 hours after the operation," said Karishma Galani of PFA.

Members of the NGO had met standing committee chairman Sandeep Joshi and municipal commissioner Sanjeev Jayaswal on Friday to discuss several issues concerning animal welfare, including a sterilization programme on the lines of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

"Some of our men were already in Mumbai for official work. We have already given them the additional task of studying the way the programme is run there. When they come back, we will try to implement their observations too," said deputy municipal commissioner RZ Siddiqui.

After signing an MOU with the Government Veterinary College in December, NMC had given the college money for equipment and medicines only in March. Though the dog population of the city has increased tremendously, the delay in the proper implementation of ABC does not appear to bother municipal authorities.

"The number of dogs would not be greatly affected by the delay of a few days, would it?" asked a senior NMC official.

PFA had also requested that the money to be spent by the municipal body on a crematorium for animals be utilized for making a shelter home instead. They have also asked for an animals mobile ambulance.

"The shelter would be ready in a month's time," assured Joshi. The ambulance is to be handed over to the public by Nitin Gadkari on his birthday, May 27.

Other demands of the NGO, which NMC officials have promised to fulfil, include making a provision for drinking water for stray animals during summer and making a veterinary doctor available round the clock.