This Meerut cow shelter is a picture of criminal negligence

MEERUT: Images describing the conditions of the cow shelter in Meerut has laid bare the deplorable conditions under which stray cattle live in, reflecting insensitivity of horrifying proportions by the municipal corporation and district administration in the matter.
This despite the high-octane statements on defence of the holy cow and CM Adityanath Yogi giving top priority to developing “state-of-the-art gaushalas” in Uttar Pradesh. The Yogi government had proposed to allocate Rs 450 crore for cow welfare in UP’s recent budget.
In visually disturbing pictures clicked by a decoy contributor of cow feed, ailing cattle can be seen lying on the floors with cow dung strewn all around at the shelter. Besides, the sheds have large gaping holes through which rainwater flows in recurrently, providing no shelter from the elements in reality. Meerut has been experiencing heavy downpours over the past few days. At present there are around 250 cows in the cow shelter.
According to an attendant, who did not wish to be identified, close to 50 cows have been buried after they fell prey to diseases last month for want of medical aid and proper care. “There is no care at all and no sanitation. The cattle keep lying unattended till they dies. Even the feed is of poor quality with mud mixed in it,” he said.
It may be noted that the CM always makes it a point to visit a cow shelter whenever he visits a district. Now, with reports that Yogi may take part in the Kanwar Yatra in Meerut, the district administration’s main worry is how to bring about a cosmetic change in the scenario.
Asked about poor condition of the cow shelter, additional municipal commissioner Amit Singh sought to downplay it. “We have adequate staff to manage the cow shelter and it is always a priority for us. But at present, a majority of the workforce is participating in the Kanwar Yatra because of which we are facing some problems. We have doctors also to look after the animals and not more than seven or eight cattle have died so far and that too, due to polythene. A large amount of polythene was found in their stomach during post-mortem,” he added.
Meanwhile, UP’s Gau Seva commission has reacted strongly against the poor condition of the cow shelter in Meerut. Speaking with TOI, president of the commission Shyam Nandan Singh said, “It is sickening to see the pictures of the state of cows we are trying to protect so hard. I will take up the matter and will institute an inquiry into the development. No one will be spared for this kind of criminal neglect of an issue so important for the state and central government.”