Panchkula Municipal Corporation in land dilemma, deadlock over building more cow-shelters

The corporation had proposed to construct three cow-shelters in three different blocks of the district to accommodate the large number of stray cattle.

The three places earmarked for the purpose were Bhairon ki ser in Kalka, Toka village Barwala and extension of the existing cow-shelter in Pinjore. However, it has been over seven months and no development has taken place.

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Mayor Upinder Kaur Ahluwalia said: “We have received expression of interest from a few public welfare trusts and will analyse them.”

However, councilors highlighted that public welfare trusts are not willing to build cow-shelters until land is allotted to them. “These trusts are willing to build cow-shelters and run them only if the municipal corporation gives them land for free. By building cow-shelters, they are eventually sharing the responsibility of the corporation,” said councillor C B Goel.

“Running a cow-shelter is a no profit and no loss venture. If the corporation does not help them by giving land at free of cost, then the civic body shouls go ahead and build cow-shelters with its own money and run them,” said councillor Salim.

However, commissioner Jagdeep Dhanda said the corporation land cannot be given at free of cost.

“The law remains same for disposal of property, whether it is for a building or a cow-shelter. The land will remain with the corporation and the public welfare trust that wants to build cow-shelter can do it by lease payment,” he said.

The four existing cow-shelters are full to capacity and have refused to accommodate more cattle. The managers of the cow shelters had turned down requests to accommodate at least 500 cows every year.

The proposal to build more cow-shelters is set to face delay owing to the stand-off between the municipal officials and councilors and the public welfare trusts not expressing willingness to come ahead.

The issue had rocked the recent House meeting of the corporation, when councilors emphasised on the need for building cow-shelters, owing to the stray cattle menace especially in Kalka-Pinjore.

A 72-year-old woman had died last year in Pinjore after she was attacked by a stray bull. There have also been reports of road accidents due to stray cattle.