Court wants stray cattle off roads

The Delhi High Court on Thursday questioned the Municipal Corporation of Delhi on why the stray cattle were back on city roads in large number and expressed unhappiness over return of illegal diaries in the Capital

The Delhi High Court on Thursday questioned the Municipal Corporation of Delhi on why the stray cattle were back on city roads in large number and expressed unhappiness over return of illegal diaries in the Capital

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A bench headed by acting Chief Justice AK Sikri directed the MCD and the Delhi police to ensure their immediate removal. The bench said stray cattle cannot be allowed on roads as they cause inconvenience to pedestrians and motorists.

The court was hearing a petition filed by a resident of Maharpur village in Rohini who complained illegal dairies have once again mushroomed in his locality as dairy owners return from Ghogha dairy area because of unsatisfactory facilities.

Last year, the MCD had claimed its efforts to provide amenities at Ghogha dairy were hampered by the Delhi Jal Board’s inability to ensure sufficient water supply.

To deal with the stray cattle menace in the city, the MCD, on the orders of the court, had developed the diary in Narela on 180 acres as part of a re-settlement scheme for those running illegal diaries in urban areas. Nearly 4,000 plots were up for grabs through draw of lots.

In 2002, while hearing the PIL seeking a direction to the MCD to take measures against stray cattle, the court had asked the civic agency to shift the dairies outside urban areas of the city. After a few years of non-compliance, applications were filed before the court prompting the division bench, in May 2007, to tell the MCD to shift illegal dairies by August 31, 2008. While the MCD has developed 2,080 plots at Ghogha Dairy, shifting of around 2,400 illegal dairies is yet to be done.