Mumbai: BMC has operationalised two more dedicated incinerators for the last rites of animals and birds at Deonar and Mahalaxmi.Civic officials said the facilities, made functional on April 1, were set up in compliance with Bombay HC’s directive to create proper cremation infrastructure for small animals. The city earlier only had one such unit, in Malad, which has been operational since 2023. Additional municipal commissioner Ashwini Joshi said the move will help citizens by ensuring easier access to authorised cremation services for pets and stray animals. “With facilities now available across regions, residents will no longer have to travel long distances,” she said. The Deonar unit, located at the abattoir, can handle animals weighing up to 500kg and operates on piped natural gas, making it relatively cleaner. The Mahalaxmi facility, set up at an animal hospital run jointly by the civic body and Tata Trusts, can handle animals up to 50kg and is fully electric. The civic body has introduced an online booking system for the service through its website vhd.mcgm.gov.in. Citizens can register on it and schedule a time slot at a facility of their choice. A helpline—7564976649—has also been made available for assistance, said Dr Kalimpasha Pathan, head of the veterinary health department. The civic body offers pet licenses through an entirely online process, which also allows pet owners to cremate their dogs free of charge upon their death. Yet, officials acknowledged, many pet owners do not voluntarily come forward to get their pets licensed. Veterinarians said they routinely raise this issue with dog owners during first consultations, stressing the importance of licensing as a way to ensure dogs are vaccinated, breeds are recorded, and BMC has a better understanding of the city’s pet population—critical for public health monitoring and planning.
