NGO files PIL on stray cattle menace

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 10

Irked over no action being taken by the state government to tackle the rising stray menace in the state, a city-based NGO, Bathinda Associations of Non-Government Organizations (BANGO), has filed a public interest litigation (PIL) petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The High Court is hearing the petition. A bench, consisting of the Chief Justice, has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, secretaries of the rural development department, local bodies and animal husbandry departments along with the secretary, PWD (B&R), and the Bathinda Deputy Commissioner summoning them on the next date of hearing— on January 31.

BANGO general secretary and co-ordinator Sadhu Ram Kusla said last month they had a meeting in which Ramneek Walia, Darshan Jaura, Sandeep Parchanda, Ramesh Mehta, Sonu Maheshwari, Rajan Singla, DK Garg, Dr AP Grover, Kamal Garg and Rakesh Narula, among others, were present.

After the meeting, it was decided to file a PIL in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. “In the petition, we have stated that to stop the killing of stray cattle, to ban the sale of beef, making of proper arrangements so that stray cattle don’t come on the national and state highways, to fix the responsibility of the municipal corporation, council or panchayat for stopping the entry of stray cattle in residential areas, to conduct the timely treatment of the ailing stray cattle, gaushalas should be constructed within a year. One gaushala should be opened for a cluster of 25 villages while new gaushalas should be given free power. More over, all the religious organizations should construct a gaushala,” Kusla said.

“We have also stated that 22 gaushalas constructed by the state government have more stray cattle than their capacity,” he added.

It is pertinent to mention that stray animals can be seen roaming in and around the city, mostly on the roads, much to the chagrin of commuters. Sometimes, the animals appear all of a sudden on the roads, jeopardising the lives of commuters, especially those riding motorbikes. Several mishaps have proved fatal, resulting in the loss of precious lives. Besides, many people have sustained injuries in the mishaps.

Residents say they pay cow cess on a number of items such as cars, two-wheelers, electricity bill, marriage palaces, cement bags and liquor. Still, they hear news regarding stray cattle attacking and injuring people on the roads.

It may be mentioned that Bathinda is the first corporation in the state to introduce cow cess to check the menace of stray cattle.