Animal birth control: Welfare board asks AMC to scrap contract with NGO

Notably,officials at the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) said they have not received any communication in this regard from the AWBI. On his part,board chairman R M Kharb said they will take action against the civic body if it failed to act on the letter written to Municipal Commissioner I P Gautam on February 5.

Kharb said: “The ABC programme is conducted by NGOs that are recognised and registered with the AWBI and whose infrastructure and professional competence is approved by the board. The board has received several complaints against Asha Foundation,which the AWBI has not recognised for the programme.”

The letter further stated: “ABC project related contracts must be offered only to NGOs registered with the board. You are therefore requested to cancel your contract awarded to the Asha Foundation… failing which,the AWBI will be constrained to initiate action in the matter.” While Gautam could not be contacted,his deputy Dilip Mahajan said they have not received any such notice yet. “If it is a matter relating to cruelty to animals,then action will be taken,” he said,adding that tenders would be issued afresh if registration with the AWBI is found to be mandatory for such projects.

Harmesh Bhatt of the Asha Foundation,meanwhile,rubbished AWBI’s claims that registration to the board is necessary to get an ABC contract. “We have a similar contract with the Surat Municipal Corporation as well,” he said.