4 min readMay 15, 2024 12:04 PM IST
First published on: May 15, 2024 at 11:59 AM IST
Disagreeing with the suggestion of Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar on the continued operation of dairies at Ghazipur and Bhalaswa located near the landfill sites, the Delhi High Court asked the top official to “seriously consider” relocating the two dairies to an alternative site in Ghogha.
In a plea concerning the status of dairy colonies in the city, a division bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora in its May 8 order observed, “…we are of the prima facie opinion that the suggestion of the Chief Secretary that the dairies at Ghazipur and Bhalaswa can continue to operate near the landfill sites and that they will not pose any threat to the public health is incorrect. It seems that the Respondents are ‘turning a blind eye’ to the irreparable harm, which the milk produced in these dairies could cause to the health of the residents of GNCTD. This Court is prima facie not persuaded by the submission of the Chief Secretary that the cattle in the dairies adjoining sanitary landfill sites can be prevented from eating hazardous waste at the landfill sites until 2025-26”.
In a host of general directions passed, the bench also ordered the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to ramp up testing for “presence of chemicals in dairy units” in all the nine designated dairies in Kakrola, Goela, Nangli Shakrawati, Jharoda, Bhalaswa Dairy, Ghazipur, Shahbad Daulatpur, Madanpur Khadar, and Masoodpur, and take appropriate action as per law in case of a violation.
The bench also noted oxytocin is known to “create side effects like an uneven heartbeat, cardiac seizure, eye problems like blurred vision, early onset of the menstrual cycle in the girl child and growth of abnormal breasts in the male child”. It further observed that cattle in dairies situated next to landfill sites would feed on hazardous waste and their milk would have serious consequences for human beings consuming them
The High Court called for a detailed affidavit by the Delhi Police commissioner indicating the efforts made to track the sources of “spurious oxytocin/hormones and its production, packaging and distribution in pursuance to the complaints” registered with the Police as well as the court’s earlier order.
The directions also called for veterinary hospitals to be made functional “forthwith” near all the designated dairies in Delhi. It further stated that bio-gas plants should be installed near all the nine dairies for the “creation of dry manure and biogas fuel/Compressed Biogas (CBG) production at the earliest, preferably before the onset of monsoon”.
“This court takes judicial notice that frequent global outbreaks of bovine diseases like foot and mouth disease, bovine herpes virus, parainfluenza… many other such diseases can spread like wildfire amongst animals. These viruses are known to jump to other species, including humans. So, milch animals have to be kept in utmost hygienic conditions,” the bench said.
The bench also observed that the milk from the dairies is used for making various products, including powdered milk, formula foods for toddlers, and sweets etc.
For Gogha dairy, the bench asked the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and other governmental organisations to “remove all unauthorised constructions, commercial establishments, residential houses and industrial units” in dairy plots.
The High Court also initiated a ‘pilot project’ with respect to Madanpur Khadar Dairy Colony to make it compliant with all the existing laws, issuing various directions for the same. Among these includes a direction to the Delhi Government’s Animal Husbandry Department with the assistance of Delhi State Legal Services Authority to conduct “awareness camps” in the colony regarding the prohibition on the use of oxytocin/hormones and “ill effects of the same on the animals and humans, including infants who consume such milk directly or indirectly”.
The bench also asked the Delhi Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to regularly inspect the condition of cattle in the colony and to immediately report any disease or injury to any animal to the Veterinary Officer of the Government Veterinary Hospital.
Delhi High Court disagrees with Chief Secretary's suggestion to continue operation of dairies near landfill sites, orders relocation to alternative site in Ghogha. (File) 
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