PUNE: The Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) pending project of setting up a dedicated refuge garden for dogs and electric crematorium for pets in the city, which was allocated Rs 1.5 crore in last year’s budget, is likely to gain momentum finally.

The civic body is now reaching out to NGOs seeking guidelines for establishing dedicated garden for dogs, which is being hailed as one of its kind initiatives in the country.

A senior official from PMC health department said that letters are being sent to various NGOs working in the field of animal welfare, inviting their suggestions for the proposed project. He said the projects could not be executed as other projects were implemented on priority basis.

“The project of special garden for dogs is unique concept. We will go ahead with its proper execution after consulting with all concerned NGOs,” he said, mentioning that the work of raising the project will be outsourced to some private firms by issuing tenders.

The official said that availability of land will not be an issue for setting up facility as PMC has with it requisite land at a few places.

He said the work of erecting electric crematorium for pets will speed up as around 1,000 square-feet of land is being identified by PMC in Mundhwa area for it.

Animal welfare activist Harsha Shah, who has been pursuing the issue of setting up these facilities for pets and also volunteering help for PMC on this issue, criticized civic body for lack of concern over the issue.

“The work on these facilities should have been completed by now. However, the civic body has failed to keep its promise,” she said. Shah has demanded more allocation of money for raising these facilities, stating that previous budgetary provision was inadequate.

REFUGE GARDEN

Dedicated refuge garden can offer shelter to thousands of stray dogs in the city. Measures like sterilization and vaccination and care could be taken at the garden with the help from veterinary doctors, activist Harsha Shah said.