Space constraints in Doon’s cow shelters, locals continue to abandon cattle on roads
Thursday, 12 October 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Though most of the cow shelters in Dehradun have space constraints, the locals continue to abandon their cattle on roads that are no longer profitable for them. Under its special campaign to make the city’s streets cattle-free, the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) has caught 214 stray cattle in past 18 days.
The campaign was commenced on September 24 under which all these cattle were shifted to eight cow shelters in the city, said the senior municipal veterinary officer Dr DC Tiwari. He said that all of these 214 stray cattle were caught from various main roads and intersections of the city out of which, 47 cattle were handed over to their respective owners after they approached the corporation and deposited penalty. The MCD collected a total penalty of Rs 89,500 in the past 18 days under the campaign.
Informing about the cow shelters for stray cattle in Dehradun, Tiwari said that there are mainly eight shelters in the city so far where the corporation keeps the stray cattle. He said that in the Kedarpuram situated Kanjihouse and Shankarpur located Gau Sadan, a total of 362 and 440 cattle are currently given shelter when they have the capacity to hold about 300 to 350 cattle. Besides this, the shelters of Hariom Ashram in Kadwapani and Timli have the capacity to hold 450 and 600 cattle respectively where 420 and 650 cattle are currently given shelter. Tiwari said that shelters of Doon Animal Welfare in Vikasnagar’s Sabhawala and Hashanpur areas have the capacity to hold 400 and 600 cattle but 411 and 670 stray cattle are currently present there.
Besides this, 99 stray cattle are also given shelter in the Shakumbari Gaushala in Vikasnagar which has the capacity to hold 103 cattle, said Tiwari. He said most of the cow shelters of the city are full as at present, they are giving shelter to over 3,000 stray cattle. The corporation has also started construction work in Shankarpur situated Gau Sadan to expand its animal holding capacity from 400 to 800 cattle. He said that though the MCD is planning to expand the capacity of cow shelters, the locals need to be sensitive towards their cattle and not leave them on the streets to die. He said that the corporation is also acting against those who leave their cows on roads after milking them every morning. “We will impose hefty fines besides taking legal action against the offenders, especially those who continue to repeat offences. This drive will continue in the city,” added Tiwari.
