More than 2,000 abandoned cattle in Chandigarh’s gaushalas, cattle pound, Punjab and Haryana High Court told

Bhawna Garg, Chandigarh Municipal Commissioner, informed that as many as 1,535 stray animals had been given shelter in the three gaushalas having a capacity of 875 animals. The civic body has a cattle pound spread out over five acres and accommodates around 544 animals. Garg informed the court that people from Chandigarh and its surrounding areas abandoned their unproductive, sick and old animals in and around the city. But in order to make the city roads and parks cattle-free, these animals were impounded on a regular basis and sent to the three gaushalas being managed by NGOs.

It was further informed that with a view to de-congest the gaushalas and the cattle pound, 756 animals had been shifted to Delhi, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh since 2013. Gaushalas in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh are paid Rs 2,000 per cattle and gaushalas in Punjab are paid Rs 3,500 per animal.

The court was informed that the civic body did not issue any export permits to any individuals for transfer of cattle from Chandigarh and even the NGOs running the gaushalas were not permitted to sell or transfer any cattle from the gaushalas.The division bench comprising Justices S K Mittal and Hari Pal Verma was informed that in compliance of the earlier court directions, a committee had been constituted to check illegal transfer of cows or other animals for slaughtering.

Taking the corporation’s reply on record, the court adjourned the case for next hearing on October 14.