Minister suggests fine, rewards to tackle cattle menace

Parveen Arora

Karnal, July 18

Despite efforts to relocate them to gaushalas and nandigram, the stray cattle menace persists on city roads, posing a road safety hazard to commuters. According to officials concerned, people continue to abandon non-productive cattle on roads, making it difficult for the authorities to keep the roads safe.

According to an Animal Husbandry Department report, nearly 3,000 stray cattle roamed the district’s roads in January, with approximately 600 having been moved to gaushalas and nandigram since then. About 2,400 cattle remain on the roads, with 1,200 in the city alone.

Urban Local Bodies Minister Subhash Sudha has set a goal to rid the city of stray cattle. To address the growing issue, Sudha has proposed imposing fine on people who abandon their cattle within city limits. He also suggested offering rewards to residents who reported cases of cattle abandonment. The initiative seeks to increase public involvement in addressing the issue.

“Our goal is to clear the roads of stray cattle within a month, and we need the public’s help. I’ve asked the DC and SP to take action against those who abandon their cattle on the road,” he added. Sudha also suggested that those who provided information about people leaving their cattle on roads be rewarded with Rs 5,000.

Following the Urban Local Bodies Minister’s directions, the Karnal Municipal Corporation (KMC) has devised a plan to relocate stray cattle to a jail gaushala. “We will approach the jail authorities about moving nearly 400 cattle to the jail’s gaushala,” said Abhishek Meena, Municipal Commissioner, adding that the task has been assigned to the Deputy Municipal Commissioner.

The KMC-operated gaushala and nandigram on Phoosgarh road are overcrowded, with nearly 1,270 cattle residing there. The KMC authorities intend to increase the gaushala’s carrying capacity. Nearly two acres of land adjacent to the gaushala, that is currently under encroachment, will be vacated and incorporated into the gaushala. The commissioner added that kanungo and patwari concerned had been asked to remove the encroachment.

“In the last month, the KMC shifted nearly 200 cattle to gaushalas and nandigram,” said Surinder Chopra, Chief Sanitary Inspector.

Dr Sanjay Antil, Deputy Director Animal Husbandry, stated that the stray cattle were tagged by the department after being relocated. “The MC officials remove the strays from city roads, while BDPOs relocate them to gaushalas or nandigrams from rural roads,” he added.

600 of 3K cattle heads moved to gaushalas

According to an Animal Husbandry Department report, there were nearly 3,000 heads of stray cattle on the district’s roads in January, with approximately 600 having been moved to gaushalas and nandigrams since then. About 2,400 cattle heads remain on the roads, with 1,200 in the city alone.

Aim to achieve cattle-free roads

Our goal is to clear the roads of stray cattle within a month, and we need the public’s help. I’ve asked the DC and SP to take action against those who abandon their cattle on the road. — Subhash Sudha, ULB Minister