Mumbai High Court Seeks BMC’s Response on Delays in Pet Crematorium Projects

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to respond within two weeks regarding delays in setting up electric crematoriums for pet animals in the city. The court’s intervention follows concerns raised over the prolonged wait for these facilities, which are crucial for pet owners seeking dignified cremation services.

The matter came to the forefront after a news report highlighted the stalled progress of the pet crematorium at Deonar. On June 11, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep V Marne took suo motu cognizance of the issue and initiated a public interest litigation. The bench noted that technical difficulties appeared to be the primary reason for the delay.

The BMC had announced in 2018 its plan to establish three pet crematoriums in Malad, Mahalaxmi, and Deonar, with a target completion year of 2024. These facilities were intended to be powered by piped natural gas (PNG) incinerators and designed to accommodate multiple animals simultaneously.

The crematorium in Malad was inaugurated in September 2023 and is operational. The BMC counsel informed the court that an electric crematorium with a carrying capacity of 50 kg is also functional at Mahalaxmi. However, the Deonar crematorium remains incomplete, with its opening delayed to May 2025 due to technical issues and further postponed by the ongoing monsoon season. The BMC has requested additional time to submit a detailed status report on the project.

The High Court has scheduled the next hearing in two weeks, by which time it expects the BMC to provide a comprehensive update on the progress of all three pet crematoriums. The court’s directive underscores the growing demand for adequate pet cremation facilities in Mumbai, where the pet population has increased substantially in recent years.