Mohali DC takes suo motu cognizance of cattle deaths

MOHALI: Deputy commissioner Gurpreet Kaur Sapra has taken suo motu cognizance of the stray cattle deaths reported at a pound in Mohali. She has called for a meeting of stakeholders including the MC commissioner to ascertain the cause of the deaths and decide further course of action. The meeting will be held on March 20.

The news of 280 stray cows allegedly dying in just two months at the cattle pound had caused panic among cow lovers after which the DC took suo motu cognizance of the matter.

She said, "It is hard to believe that 280 cows died in two months and the pound caretakers did not alarm the administration or the MC. If they claim that the cause of the deaths was foot and mouth disease, they should have alarmed the health department. However, if consumption of polythene bags lead to the deaths, then it is clear negligence on their part to have not been able to treat the sick cattle on time. I have called an emergency meeting to decide further action. We will chalk out a plan to de-congest the cattle pound as an immediate remedial measure."

Caretakers switched statements

The cattle pound at Industrial Area Phase 1, Mohali, is being managed by Gauri Shankar Gau Sewa Dal which also handles the cattle pound in Sector-45, Chandigarh. Sewa Dal president Ramesh Kumar had earlier stated that the stray cattle had died due to the spreading of mouth and foot disease. However, a day after the animal husbandry minister visited the pound, the caretakers claimed that the stray cattle died due to consumption of huge amount of polythene.

Ramesh Kumar said, "We had informed the MC assistant commissioner to stop catching the cows as some of them were infected with mouth and foot disease which is fatal. But the MC continued sending them to the pound. Our duty is to feed the stray cows lodged in the pound and to treat them. If a cow dies, it is the MC's duty to lift and dispose it of."

Punjab Animal husbandry minister Balbir Singh Sidhu after inspecting the cattle pound had learnt that the cause of the deaths was not any infection, but ill-treatment of the stray cows at the pound. He had also marked an inquiry into the matter to MC joint commissioner Kanu Thind and sought a report within seven days.