Now, a crematorium for all kinds of pets

In a unique initiative, the South Dum Dum Municipality has decided to set up an advanced crematorium exclusively for pets.

The Urban Development department is extending financial assistance to Dum Dum Municipality to execute the project which is expected to be completed within six months. It has been learnt that Bratya Basu, the local MLA, has been instrumental in clearing a fund of Rs 1.5 crore for the project initially.

Urban Development Minister, Firhad Hakim on Thursday laid the foundation stone of the project. It may be mentioned that earlier the Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO) had constructed a crematorium for dogs but this is for the first time any Municipality has come up with a project of setting up crematorium for all types of pets.

The project will immensely benefit the people in Dum Dum and surrounding areas as they could get their pets cremated in the proposed pet crematorium. According to a source at the Municipality, the owners of foreign dogs have to pay Rs 250 for the cremation of their pets, while for local pets, their masters have to pay Rs 50. For cats, one has to pay Rs 50 while Rs 300 for cows and Rs 100 for a goat.

This type of facility is available in other cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Bengaluru.

Chairman of South Dum Dum Municipality, Panchu Roy said, the project is likely to be completed within 6-12 months which will benefit the people immensely.

In another development, Dum Dum Municipality has started a social scheme for the benefits of underprivileged people who do not have Aadhaar cards. The Dum Dum Municipality has organised a programme at Mangal Pandey Bhavan where the senior officials of the municipality have provided financial assistance to more than 100 people residing under its jurisdiction who are yet to get a Aadhar card.