It is becoming increasingly difficult for people who rear animals and pet-owners to bury or cremate the animals. They have to either cough up huge amounts at private graveyards or crematoriums, or make their way to the only public facility in the city.
“Earlier, there was the option to bury the animal in an empty plot of land in the neighbourhood. But with open spaces depleting, this is no longer possible. There have been increasing incidences of bodies being found in the garbage,” says N.S. Ramakanth, a waste expert.
The BBMP-run facility is equipped with two incinerators, one for small animals and another for big ones. It began operations last November. Animal Husbandry Department’s Joint Director Shivram said that the crematorium at Sumanahalli is spread over three acres.
However, it is not enough, say animal rights activists. “It is the BBMP’s job to provide facilities to dispose of animal remains. BBMP has enough land to provide at least one burial ground in each of its eight zones,” said Compassion Unlimited Plus Action Trustee Sandhya Madappa, adding that remains of both small and pets and big animals, like horses and cows, need to be taken care of.
The BBMP’s manual on Solid Waste Management speaks about the need to dispose animal bodies, which it considers municipal waste. Although it differentiates between slaughter-house waste and animals that die naturally or through accident, there is no mention of exactly how the bodies should be disposed or punishment for non-compliance.
