Dog owners in Madhya Pradesh's Sagar town would soon be taxed, a first of its kind in Madhya Pradesh. Over 40 councilors unanimously decided to do so for the security and cleanliness of the residents.
Once framed by the Sagar Municipal Corporation, in consultation with legal experts, the new law will come into effect as early as April this year.
Sagar municipal commissioner Chandrashekhar Shukla backed the decision claiming stray dog menace is increasing in the city.
"In the wake of rising stray dog menace and dirtying of public places by defecation of pet dogs, all the municipal wards of Sagar have unanimously resolved for strict registration, vaccination of dogs as well as levying tax on those owning the pet dogs," Shukla said.
Pet dog owners however feel that the tax is unjustified. Lavesh Chowdhary, who has a rottweiler, argued that the city should provide dog owners with a space to relieve the dogs instead.