Bangalore has no place to give a decent send-off to the pets. Dead pets are normally disposed of at sanitary landfill sites while a few are left in distant dump yards. But the BBMP is now planning to set up an animal crematorium in the city.

The number of pet owners is increasing rapidly in Bangalore. But these same pet owners are blissfully unaware of the troubles they would inevitably face when their pets die. Most of them bury the remains of the pets in their backyard - or throw them in a nearby canal. But now after years of fighting for it, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is planning to set up animal crematorium in the city.

BBMP officials said plans for this crematorium, also the first in south India had been finalized and a 5-acre plot identified at Jalahalli Medi Agrahara. "The project is in the final stage and we hope to complete the process within 15 days," said A K Gopalswamy, engineer-in-chief, BBMP. Initially meant for the disposal of carcasses of stray dogs or those suspected to have died of rabies, civic authorities now plan to let pet and livestock owners use it too. Currently, such a facility is available only in Mumbai and New Delhi.

The project was originally mooted to tackle garbage issues linked to animal carcasses. Bangalore has no scientific way for disposal of pets, and other stray animals which die in road accidents, of rabies and other diseases. Dead pets are normally disposed of at sanitary landfill sites while a few are left in distant dump yards.

The new facility will also prevent the spread of dangerous diseases through viruses in dead animals and stem underground water pollution due to the burial of animals.After consulting environmental experts, BBMP submitted a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to the state government. The government gave its nod and paved the way for the BBMP to invite tenders. The facility should be ready by October.

According to the DPR, the cremation facilities will cost approximately Rs 2.5 crore. About 15-20 animals can be cremated every day for a fee ranging from Rs 250 to Rs 1000. Two trained personnel will man it. The BBMP also plans to have dedicated veterinary doctors to conduct a post mortem on animals which die under mysterious circumstances. Environmentalist S Girish said: "Electric cremation is the best way of disposal as it is pollution-free and it also destroys germs and viruses in the body, if the animal has died due to an infectious disease."

What the Rule Book says?
Rule 11 of the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules of 2001 says the carcasses of euthanized dogs shall be disposed of in an incinerator provided by the local authority (read civic body)

Source: TOI