MBMC Asked to Review ₹5,000 Fine on Feeding Stray Animals in Mira Bhayandar
In Mira Bhayandar, Thane's District Deputy Commissioner of Animal Husbandry has directed the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) to conduct an immediate legal review and reconsider its order imposing a ₹5,000 fine on residents who feed stray animals outside designated locations.
The intervention follows strong public outrage against the civic circular, which penalises citizens for feeding community dogs and cats outside 20 designated feeding spots across the city. Animal welfare activist Roshan Pathak had formally written to the civic body, highlighting that merely 20 feeding spots are grossly inadequate for the large population of animals in the twin-city.
Following the backlash, the District Deputy Commissioner of Animal Husbandry, who also serves as the member secretary of the District Animal Cruelty Prevention Society, stepped in. The official issued a directive to the MBMC Commissioner and the civic Veterinary Officer, instructing them to immediately examine the legal validity of the penalty through the civic body's Law and Justice Department.
The official communication instructed the MBMC to align its stray management guidelines with statutory standards. The civic administration must re-evaluate the complaint in line with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, directives issued by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), and Maharashtra state guidelines. The district administration has set a strict seven-day deadline for the MBMC to submit an action taken report.
Addressing earlier concerns over the limited feeding zones, MBMC Veterinary Officer Dr Vikram Niratle had stated that the 20 locations were merely part of a rollout phase. He noted that the civic body planned to expand the network to up to 40 public spots alongside private residential arrangements.
However, animal activists have maintained that the penal mechanism lacks legal backing. Pathak noted that feeding any animal is a right and duty protected by the Constitution, arguing that the ₹5,000 fine showed MBMC was unaware of court judgements and ABC rules. He warned that the regulation would become a tool to harass feeders, potentially increasing dog bite cases and stoking conflicts between residents and animal lovers.
