MC to construct gaushala at Gumanpura bypass

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 14

The Municipal Corporation (MC) has decided to construct a gaushala near Gumanpura bypass near Chheharta.

A resolution in this regard has been passed in the recently general house meeting. With more than 3,000 stray cattle roaming in and around the city, the MC has only one functioning cattle pond at Lohgarh Gate with a capacity of 25 cattle. The cattle pond staff said they kept 35 and sometimes even 40 cows in the congested shed. Though the MC owns a total of three cattle ponds but two of them have been encroached religious sects.

Supervisor at Lohgarh Gate cattle pond SS Wahla said: “We have seized a bull on a complaint by Member of Parliament Gurjeet Singh Aujla a few days back. We had no proper place to keep it. The cattle shed has only four catchers, which are overburdened with work.”

“The stray cattle often get trapped in manholes and nullahs or get injured in the accidents. We have to go for their rescue and treatment. There are only four of us to tackle with mad dogs and violent bulls. It is a hectic job due to the rising population of stray cattle and dogs,” said a catcher.

“Religious bodies have five separate gaushalas and a huge expanse of land. But they do not keep stray cows. The MC has been making effort to make a large cattle pond near Gumanpura bypass,” added Wahla.

Municipal Health officer Dr Ajay Kuwar said: “We are going to construct a cattle pond with capacity of 500 cows at Gumanpura. The MC will make all arrangements from the cow cess, which is being collected for the welfare of cows. The gaushala will be functional within two months near the slaughter house at Gumanpura bypass.”