MC has no budget for stray cattle: Gaushala Sangh

Mukesh Tandon

Tribune News Service

Panipat, August 25

The menace of stray animals in the district has risen to alarming proportions but the Municipal Corporation and the district administration have failed to solve the problem.

In the last six months, two persons have lost their lives and many have been injured in accidents triggered by stray animals in the district.

“Of the 19 gaushalas in the district, 16 are registered. They are home to more than 20,000 cows and calves but more than 4,000 stray animals still roam freely on streets. Of these, 1,500 animals roam in the area under the Municipal Committee. The Municipal Corporation has no provision for the stray cattle,” said Kulbeer Singh Kharab, general secretary, Haryana Gaushala Sangh.

Vice-president, Haryana Gaushala Sangh, Acharya Azaad Arya said: “The situation in gaushalas in the district is not so good as they are overcrowded. In some gaushalas, the living condition of animals is pathetic.”

On an average, eight cows and calves die in road accidents in the district every month and many also got injured in accidents, alleged Arya. The state government has provided two mobile vans to the Municipal Corporation for injured animals, but they are parked in the Hali Park area and have not been used in the past around 10 months, he added.

Veena Hooda, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, said: “I have received a report that there are around 1,500 stray animals in the Municipal area. We have discussed the problem with some NGOs in the city so as to control the menace and have also asked them to prepare a project plan.”

“After they come up with a plan, the Municipal Corporation will provide them around one and a half acres of land to keep the stray animals. Mobile vans will also be provided to them,” Veena Hooda added.