Stray cattle menace in Panchkula: Administration fails to meet deadline

PANCHKULA: The Panchkula administration, which had promised its residents to free the district from cattle menace by February 28, has failed again. This is the third time that the district administration has missed it deadline. The trend to set deadlines was started by the administration in 2018. The administration made August 15 its first deadline and assured residents freedom from cattle menace in the city, however failed.
The authorities again set a deadline in September. They promised the residents that the district will get relief from stray cattle mess by January - and they failed again.

Some residents said that they were not facing disappointment for the first time. "Last year, the authorities had promised to give freedom from stray cattle menace but failed miserably," the residents said.

"In November as well, the Panchkula administration assured us a much-needed relief by January 26, however, despite all tall claims, the administration and the municipal corporation failed to curb the menace. Stray cattle can still be seen roaming everywhere in the city," residents said.

It has been learned that the work to construct a new cow shelter at Sukhdarshanpur village in Barwala - that can accommodate 1,000 animals - is still under process. Sources said that the work was halted recently. As per a survey conducted by the administration last year, there are around 700 stray cattle roaming on Panchkula roads.

When asked about the status of the work, MC commissioner Rajesh Jogpal said the work was already being done in a speedy manner. "We are in the process of signing a memorandum with a non-governmental organisation (NGO) for the upcoming cow shelter. Two NGOs have come forward and shown interest after advertisements for assistance to run the shelter were floated. As per the process, we will finalise one NGO and sign a memorandum of understanding soon. The NGO will manage the gaushala and accommodate and look after stray cattle being captured by MC," he said.

Caretakers of all cow shelters located in Panchkula had earlier written to MC commissioner and stated that their shelters were packed to capacity.

Jogpal further informed the DC that the civic body was not in the shape to accommodate any more stray cattle.

MC also tried putting radium reflector collars around the necks of stray cattle to avoid road mishaps at night, but this project too failed miserably.