Now, stray cattle menace spreading in rural areas of Sirsa dist

Despite claims of the administration that stray cattle had been removed, the situation on the ground paints a very different picture in Sirsa district.

While urban areas like Sirsa have long been dealing with the menace of wandering cattle, the problem is now rapidly spreading in rural regions, becoming a growing concern for both farmers and residents. Although there is an ongoing campaign to capture and remove stray cattle in urban areas, these efforts have proven ineffective. Meanwhile, rural areas, once less affected, are now facing an increasing number of stray animals, putting pressure on farmers who are struggling to protect their crops and livelihoods.

Sirsa district was declared "cattle-free" in October 2017, but the reality is far from it. Stray cattle are causing major problems in both rural and urban areas. In villages, cattle are being moved from one place to another, causing tensions and even conflicts between neighbouring villages. This has led to frequent fights and disagreements over the cattle’s movement.

On National Highway 9, which passes through villages like Punjuwana, Khairekan, and Sahuwala, groups of stray cattle are a regular cause of road accidents. Farmers are now forced to spend money on hiring guards or setting up barbed wire fences around their fields to protect their crops, as the cattle destroy these at night.

Amar Singh from Sahuwala village said the problem of stray cattle was not just limited to urban areas or highways. In rural regions, villagers are also struggling with the same issue, and the situation is worsening as the number of stray animals increases.

He claimed that the administration’s plans for setting up animal shelters or goshalas had not been very successful, leaving the issue unresolved. The goshalas that do exist are already overcrowded, making it impossible for these to accommodate more animals, especially in the cold weather. With little support from the authorities, farmers are left to fend for themselves.

Yogesh Bishnoi, president of the Goshala Sangh, pointed out that the guards hired to protect cattle in rural areas sometimes mistreat them. They are known to transport cattle under the cover of darkness and in some cases, even throw these from moving vehicles. This has led to several incidents of dead cattle being found on roads. The government provides some financial support to goshalas, but it appears that farmers would be better off sending their stray cattle to these shelters instead of continuing to hire expensive guards.

Bishnoi said while the Haryana Government regularly asks for reports on the number of cattle in the goshalas, no such reports are ever requested for the increasing number of stray cattle roaming the streets and fields. Villages, whether they have a goshala or not, are all affected by this problem. Some locals blame the rising number of these animals on the American breed, which is said to be reproducing rapidly.

Another farmer Rakesh Sihag said the farmers, whose crops are often destroyed by stray cattle, are resorting to extreme measures to protect their fields. Many are paying significant amounts of money to hire horse riders to patrol their crops, while others are forced to set up barbed wire fences. Although they know these measures are not ideal, they have no choice since their crops are their primary source of income, Sihag added.

Notably, Sirsa district, which has the most goshalas (141) in the state, currently houses around 60,000 cattle. The Haryana Gau Seva Aayog has allocated Rs 12.92 crore to these shelters for the year 2023-24, but the situation continues to deteriorate.