
On Wednesday, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s convoy was halted by stray cows in Haiderpur for 15 minutes. A day later, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) decided to intensify action against illegal dairies and their owners.
In a zonal committee meeting Thursday, officials resolved to not only seal unauthorised dairies but also demolish illegal constructions linked to them and impose penalties. The action will also extend to illegal electricity and water connections at the dairy owner’s residence.
The development comes after a herd of four to five cows suddenly appeared in front of the CM’s convoy on the Haiderpur flyover. She was on her way to carry out a spot visit to inspect the city’s Metro pillars when the animals obstructed her path. “Due to the driver’s presence of mind, an accident was averted,” a source said.
Keshavpuram Zone Chairman Yogesh Verma stated that dairy operators routinely release cows onto the roads after milking them, leading to frequent accidents. “The corporation used to seal these dairies, but owners have been breaking the seals. Now, we will go a step further — sealing not just the dairies but also cutting electricity and water connections and taking action against illegal residential constructions of dairy owners,” he said.
So far, the MCD has primarily been taking action against illegal dairies, especially in the Bhalswa area due to its proximity to the landfill site. However, this will be the first time that action is being extended to the homes of dairy operators as well.
CM Gupta also held a high-level meeting with officials of local bodies during which actions that are to be taken against stray cattle, issues of cleanliness and basic amenities, potholes, dust and sewer blockage were discussed.
“It was decided that a special campaign should be run to remove stray animals from roads. Proper shelters should be arranged for cows and a special campaign should be run for dogs. A plan should be prepared to identify stray animals in each ward for their rehabilitation or transfer,” the CMO said in a statement.
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