nagpur replying to maharashtra pollution control boards notice on bhandewadi animal shelter the nagpur municipal corporation nmc has pointed out that it has only one such facility and closing it will lead to miserable conditions of sick and injured animals as reported by toi earlier the board had issued a closure notice to nmc for violating environmental laws at the shelter mpcb also slammed the civic body for not obtaining authorization under biomedical waste management and handling rules 1998 in its reply nmc stated that biomedical waste generated at the shelter was being handled by ms superb hygiene disposals that is recognized by mpcb all the biomedical waste generated in our hospitals and the shelter is handled by this company which is itself authorized by the board said nmc health officer dr milind ganvir the civic body also expressed willingness to submit an application for obtaining the required authorization it also clarified that the animals kept at the shelter were not used for any kind of testing or experiments nmc added that as per previous consultation with the board the method of deep burial of dead animals was being practised at the shelter we had floated an expression of interest eoi for an incinerator but the tender was cancelled as bidders did not meet the technical requirements a fresh tender will be floated soon nmc said in its reply it also pointed out that applications were sought from animal welfare organizations to run the shelter and two ngos had been shortlisted the proposal was approved by the standing committee and work order issued a memorandum of understanding mou with the two organizations will be signed shortly nmc noted that closing down the animal shelter was not a solution at present there is no other appropriate place to keep sick and injured animals if the shelter is closed it will become difficult to treat sick and injured animals and their mortality rate will increase the shelter should not be closed till an alternative place is identified nmc will try to improve conditions at the present shelter said ganvir animal activists agreed the shelter should not be closed down if there are any loopholes or shortcomings nmc should work upon it if such shelters are shut sick animals will be on streets and will also spread infections like rabies to humans they will also be a threat to pets said member of animal welfare board of india awbi jaya simha what mpcb said noncompliances observed by mpcb animal waste generated by dogs at bhandewadi animal shelter disposed of unscientifically records regarding biomedical waste generation and disposal not maintained nmc failed to obtain authorization under biomedical waste management and handling rules 1998 heaps of dog carcasses some halfburnt lying openly nmcs reply shelter should not be closed as it is home to sick and injured animals biomedical waste generated at the shelter handled by ms superb hygiene disposals that is recognized by mpcb nmc