Removed from G20 Summit routes, stray cattle to be kept at govt-funded shelters

Officials were told to begin the exercise on August 16 and work in two shifts — from 7 am to 3 pm and from 4 pm to 12 am. However, for the past three days, officials were working in three shifts to ensure there are no cattle visible on the G20 routes. “We have been divided into three shifts since the past three days — 6 am to 2 pm; 2 pm to 10 pm; and 10 pm to 6 am. Basically, work was done round the clock,” an MCD worker said.

The MCD has also dispatched six teams on 44 stretches where cows needed to be removed. Each team is being supervised by an MCD veterinary officer. The stretches from where the cows have been removed include Mathura Road, Sachivalaya Road, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lala Lajpat Rai Marg, areas around Akshardham Mandir, areas around Leela hotel and other main hotels, Bhairon Marg, all around Pragati Maidan, Lodhi Road and Airport to Dhaula Kuan.

According to MCD workers, most of the work was done at night and 3-4 cows were caught by each group in each shift. “The cattle are being housed in a government shelter in Jahangirpuri,” an MCD official said.

The MCD in a statement said: “The necessity to remove stray cattle cannot be denied since these…many times are a threat to public safety and act as a hindrance to smooth flow of traffic.”