The civic administration of the city drafted new guidelines regarding keeping the pet and animals. As per the new rule, those who want to keep a pet at home would now require a permit from the NMC that has drafted byelaw for their registration. At the same time, licensing for shops dealing with pets and animals too is readied by the civic body as per new guidelines from Central and State Government. Now registration of every pet would be compulsory under Section 376 (Business License and Animals Abduction and License for other Sectors) of Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act. Under the MMC Act, NMC has framed the bye-laws regarding Registration and Shops Licensing and as per it every animal should be tagged.
Dogs, cats would be required to be fitted with microchips and its owners need to bear the cost and failure to do so might led to impounding of the pets, the bye-laws have proposed. It is proposed that open defecation or in public places in future would lead to registration of offence against the owner with provision of fine of Rs 500 for first conviction and Rs 1,000 on second conviction. Further, NMC can also deregister the pet in case it is found that the presence of any pet may lead to problems in society or the surroundings. Further, the bye-laws has also put limit on number of cows or buffaloes one person can keep at the shed to 10 animals. Even for construction of cow shed, prior permission from NMC would be required. In case any person is desirous of rearing animals numbering more than 10, then permission from Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has been made mandatory. NMC has put up the bye-laws for analysing by citizens, animal lovers, activists and sought their suggestions or any objections so that same can be updated. As per the bye-laws, any person engaged in sale of pet animals or bird will require permission from the NMC and registration is to be done for those who are already in said business. From the date of notifying the bye-laws, permission would be required to be taken within 90 days.
In case the person seeking permission for transportation of animals has defaulted on any payment to NMC, the application would be summarily rejected. Similarly, the license would need to be renewed as per the guidelines and any delay would lead to imposition of daily fine. Violation of bye-laws can lead to imprisonment and a person can be fined up to Rs 5,000. In case of continuous violation of the provision contained in byelaws, the fine would be Rs 1,000 for first day and upto Rs 3,000 for next seven days and Rs 5,000 beyond seven days period. Non-payment of fine within the stipulated period would further result in inclusion of same in property tax and same would be realised.
Details about registration and transportation of animals are available onhttps://www.nmcnagpur.gov.i n/vsnmc and people can field their objection or put in their suggestion through the said link. After going through the objection and suggestions, the NMC administration can reframe the bye-laws and then, place the same before general body meeting for its approval.