PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 20

Everything is not right at the ‘modern cow shelter’ constructed at a cost of Rs1.5 crore by the Municipal Corporation here. Pitiable conditions prevail at the site in the absence of proper upkeep.

There is no facility to keep a permanent veterinary doctor at the cow shelter. The cows are dying due to lackadaisical approach of the civic authorities. — Dr Rohan Mehra, President, Anti-Crime & Animal Protection Association

If the recent video that went viral on social media is anything to go by, around 10 cows died due to the careless attitude of the authorities concerned. This is the second such incident at the shelter constructed by the Municipal Corporation here though representatives of several NGOs claim it is a routine affair, as there was no proper upkeep of bovines in the so-called ‘modern cow shelter’.

On Friday, Harish Sharma, president Manav Adhikar Sangharsh Committee, visited the cow shelter. He shot a video, clicked the pictures of 7-8 dead cows and circulated the same on social media urging various NGOs to join hands to save cows.

“There were no water for cows, while chambers wherein fodder is served to the cows were empty. The cows were running after us when we visited there to offer fodder and jaggery,” said Sharma. It was very painful to see the carcasses while the authorities have failed to ensure proper upkeep of the animals there.

Following the incident, Dr Rohan Mehra, president, Anti-Crime and Animal Protection Association, has sent a legal notice to the Municipal Corporation Commissioner.

“There is no facility to keep a permanent veterinary doctor at the cow shelter. The cows are dying due to lackadaisical approach of the civic authorities,” said Dr Mehra.

Constructed at a cost of Rs1.5 crore, it has a capacity to house as many as 350 cows, said the authorities, who had claimed that the volume would be increased as the civic authorities already planned for its expansion and the formalities for the same would be completed. Separate chambers were constructed for diseased animals, pregnant cattle and calves besides a godown for keeping fodder.

A room was also constructed for a veterinary doctor and its staff for the treatment and care of stray cattle.

Nirbhaya Singh, chief sanitary inspector and in-charge of the gaushala, however, said this was unnecessarily being blowing out of proportion.

“Three cows had died that day as they could not survive. They were diseased or accidental cases, which were sent to the cow shelter,” he said, claiming that there was proper arrangement of fodder and water at the gaushala.

He said doctors daily visit to treat the animals.