Paid crematoriums for pets to be set up across Maharashtra

Representational Image. File Pic/Shadab Khan

In a major relief for pet owners, the Maharashtra government has approved the establishment of paid crematoriums for deceased pets across the state. Responding to persistent efforts by Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, the Urban Development Department has issued a government resolution (GR) directing local self-governing bodies to allocate land for pet cremation facilities next to solid waste management centres.

Until now, the improper disposal of dead pets has often led to foul odours and raised the risk of disease outbreaks, posing a public health concern. Recognising the urgency of the issue, Minister Sarnaik had raised it during the legislature's session in July 2023, emphasizing the need for dignified and sanitary facilities for the cremation of pets such as dogs, cats, and white mice. He also cautioned that unregulated cremations near human crematoriums could create unnecessary religious and social tensions.

According to the guidelines issued by the Urban Development Department, local bodies must allocate space near solid waste management facilities, construct protective walls, and ensure adequate security. They are also required to take proper precautions during cremation to avoid foul smells and prevent the spread of disease. Citizens will be permitted to use these facilities for a specified fee. The guidelines strictly prohibit the disposal of dead pets elsewhere.

The initiative will first be implemented as a pilot project in the Thane and Mira-Bhayandar municipal areas. Equipment for gas-based incineration has already been installed on reserved land near existing human crematoriums in these regions. The inauguration of these facilities is scheduled to take place soon.

Thanks to the efforts of the then Chief Minister and now Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the Urban Development Department has decided to expand this initiative across all municipal corporations and councils in the state. This move has been widely welcomed by more than 12,000 pet owners in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

Moving forward, all local self-governing bodies in Maharashtra will be required to allocate space for pet crematoriums near solid waste management centres, ensuring a cleaner and more responsible approach to pet aftercare.