The man-animal conflict has come to the forefront again after a resident welfare association (RWA) in Bengaluru decided to charge Rs 10,000 as “registration fees” for keeping pet dogs in apartments.
The RWA of Ittina Mahavir, a housing project in north Bengaluru's Electronic City, is charging the fees, which is a refundable deposit, to be paid before November 15, sources privy to the information told Moneycontrol.
The fees will be refunded when the resident vacates the apartment.
Apart from the fees, the RWA has also set up strict guidelines for pet walking inside the society.
This is an increasing problem in Bengaluru, according to several activists and attorneys, as the city's real estate market continues to grow.
Moneycontrol spoke to several experts to understand if RWAs can charge for keeping pets inside their apartments.
What do experts say?
Thejeshwar, an animal welfare officer at Compassion Unlimited Plus Action, popularly known as CUPA, said though this is an isolated incident, such charges are being increasingly levied by several associations.
"We have been working on the rescue of strays for years, and have come across several societies which charge, if not registration, maintenance fees to allow dogs inside the housing projects, even have it in their association bylaws," he said.
However, a lack of clear guidelines from the local bodies escalates the issues.
Col. Nawaz Shariff, ex-DIG and chief veterinarian at PFA Wildlife Hospital in Bengaluru added that such circulars or notifications do not have any locus standi.
"The residents who face such issues should immediately contact the local NGOs and also the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI). While the local NGOs can act swiftly, the AWBI will be able to take legal actions and send notices to the RWA," Shariff added.
What does the local municipal body say?
Dr Manjuanth Shinde, Assistant Director, Animal Husbandry at the municipal body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), said such rules are not only unauthorised but also illegal.
"There are basic guidelines by the BBMP, and the pet parents have to take care of the pets and see no harm comes from their attacks. In cases where attacks happen, BBMP policies clearly say that the owner has to take care of the charges. However, taking such registration fees is not legal," he said.
Shinde added that in cases where residents face such issues, they can either reach out to AWBI or even the SPCA chapter of Bengaluru, which is run by a group of animal activists and rescuers — working under the guidance of the state government.
However, experts also say that the current pet policies in Bengaluru are outdated and require urgent intervention from the local bodies to prevent the conflict between RWAs and residents from escalating.
Shinde added that the local municipal body is already working on an updated pet policy for the registration of pets in Bengaluru and also on clear guidelines for residential projects.
"The proposal is pending with the urban development department and will be released soon," he said.
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