have you apply a licence before buying pets!!
M4PNews | Chandigarh
In a first in India, people in urban areas of Punjab will now have to pay tax for keeping domestic animals, according to the latest notice issued by the state government.
According to a notification issued by the Department of Local Administration headed by state minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, all pet animals will now be taxed, including cats, dogs, horses, pigs, buffaloes and cows.
As per order, residents in Punjab will have to pay tax of Rs 250 per year for keeping domestic animals like dog, cat, pig, sheep, deer etc and Rs 500 per year for buffalo, bull, camel, horse, cow, elephant etc.
“Branding code”, identification mark or number will also be given to each animal on code branding or microchip installed on the animal, the order government said.
From now on, a pet owner in Punjab will also have to take licence from the authority, which will be renewed after every year.
This may create a lot of resentment in Punjab, which — along with Goa and Kerala — is among the most urbanised states in India.