Drive stopped as gaushalas packed to their capacity

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, April 19

While gaushalas and cow shelters in the district are packed to their capacity, the Panchkula MC has stopped catching stray cattle for the past three months.

As a result, there is no control over the stray cattle menace in Panchkula.

Panchkula MC Commissioner Rajesh Jogpal said a new gaushala was coming up in Sukhdarshanpur village and soon the construction would be completed.

Till then, they were ensuring that these cattle not enter highways and roads to avoid any accident, he said.

Besides, the MC has not taken any action against violators. In October, the MC had issued notice to 83 violators, who were responsible for letting their cattle roam on roads, but till date strict action has not been initiated against erring dairy owners.

The MC Commissioner had warned that action would be taken under Section 133 of the CrPC against those showing lackadaisical approach towards the notice issued by the MC.

A majority of these violators were from Rally village, Ramgarh, Saketri, Kalka and Pinjore among other villages and colonies falling under the MC limits. In 2016, MC officials had even held a meeting with the dairy owners and local village sarpanchs. They were warned that if any cattle was found loitering in streets, strict action would be taken and FIRs would also be registered.

Earlier in 2016, the corporation was planning to open its own dairies there, but the proposal failed to get the nod during an MC meeting. Two cow shelters in Pinjore and Kalka have around 6,000 to 7,000 cattle, while the Panchkula cow shelter has around 3,000 cattle. Each year, around 500 cows are brought to these shelters.

No action against violators in P’kula

The MC has not taken any action against violators. In October, the MC had issued notice to 83 violators, who were responsible for letting their cattle roam on roads, but till date strict action has not been initiated against erring dairy owners.