Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation may hike fine on stray animals

The veterinary department of the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has proposed a hike of at least 2.5% in the fines levied on owners of stray animals. The old rates have been in force for 15 years.

The cattle squad of the PCMC picks up strays causing nuisance on the roads and keeps them at the PCMC’s animal pond at Nehrunagar, Chinchwad.

The animals are returned to the owners after they pay the fines. PCMC veterinary chief, Satish Gore, said, “The PCMC declared the rates for keeping the strays at its animal pond in 1995. Now the cost of the animal food has increased, so the civic body should
increase the rates.”

The veterinary department had placed the proposal in front of the law committee for approval. The department collects nearly Rs1 lakh by way of fines on strays every year.