The facility, which has been developed by the People for Animals (PFA) and the GHMC at Fathullaguda, can incinerate four animals in one cycle.
Published Dec 07, 2022 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Dec 09, 2022 | 1:00 AM
The small animals crematorium, which is adjacent to the 'first' multi-faith crematorium of India, was inaugurated by the Telangana IT & Urban Affairs Minister KT Rama Rao on Tuesday, 6 December. (Supplied)
A crematorium facility dedicated solely to small animals was opened in Hyderabad on Tuesday, 6 December.
The exclusive facility for small animals is to help their owners give a respectful farewell to their furry or feathered loved ones.
In a joint effort of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and People for Animals (PFA), the facility is at the animal care Centre at Fathullaguda, Nagole in LB Nagar.
“It was the idea of our founder Vasanthi Vadi from Hyderabad. She dreamt about such a space for a long time. It will provide an opportunity for pet parents to bid a loving goodbye to their pets,” Dr Amulya VR, Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Hyderabad-based PFA Abhaya, told South First.
The animal welfare organisation is recognised by the Animal Welfare Board of India.
The 2,000 square feet facility, which is adjacent to the “first” multi-faith crematorium of India, was inaugurated by the Telangana IT & Urban Affairs Minister KT Rama Rao.
Amulya observed that in cities like Hyderabad, not everybody has the kind of space to cremate their pets.
“The pets would be usually picked up by municipal workers and taken to the landfill. Everything would just pile up there,” she said.
Now, people have this facility — the first in Telangana and the second in South India, she claimed — to give the pets a proper goodbye.
The incinerator at the small animals crematorium in Hyderabad. (Supplied)
While the GHMC provided space and a shed for the crematorium, the machinery was procured by the PFA.
“We will be maintaining running and the operational cost of the facility, which would include the cost incurred to maintain the incinerator,” Amulya said.
The cost of cremation of each small animal would depend on its body weight.
“Minimum cost will be around ₹6,000 and would go up. It will take around 1.5-2 hours for the cremation of one pet,” said Amulya.
On being asked whether small stray animals will be cremated voluntarily by the GHMC or by PFA, she noted that it is not something that has been agreed upon so far.
Built at a cost of ₹84.75 lakh, of which ₹33.50 lakh was contributed by the GHMC and ₹51.25 by the PFA, the crematorium incinerator will operate on LPG cylinders and is said to produce zero emissions.
LPG cylinders at the small animals’ crematorium in Hyderabad. (Supplied)
As per the GHMC, the Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) gave consent after the facility complied with all the regulations specified by them.
“The incinerator has a dry scrubber, wet scrubber, and air filter, and the residue would not harm the environment,” Amulya noted.
“In the end, we will also give ashes to the owner as a memory. It’s their choice if they want to keep them or immerse them,” she said.
