The Delhi High Court has directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD), and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) to take immediate steps for shifting all dairies from Bhalswa to Ghogha Dairy Colony within four weeks. The directions came after the High Court noted the “inability” of the authorities to take action to stop milch cattle from feeding on garbage from the landfills near Bhalswa and Ghazipur.
The bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora was dealing with a petition where the “bad” condition of all nine designated dairy colonies in Delhi was highlighted. The High Court had earlier asked the central government to explore the feasibility of shifting Ghazipur and Bhalswa dairy colonies outside the city as they are situated next to landfill sites, which is “very dangerous”.
After the latest hearing on July 19, the High Court recorded in its order, “The statutory authorities charged with compliance with these rules to protect the animals have completely failed in their duty and in this process, not only have they turned a blind eye to the cruelty met out to these animals but have also ignored the fatal effect it has had on the quality of milk produced by these animals and which is being sold for consumption to the residents of the state.”
“The milk being sold from these animals is unsafe for consumption and despite this issue being highlighted in the Court in the last several hearings, the concerned statutory authorities are unable to get out of their slumber and take remedial steps in these colonies to ensure that the cattle have safe space, medical facilities, and grazing ground to stop them from feeding on the garbage of the landfills,” it added.
The HC’s directions came after the Court was informed that unutilised land —- up to 83 acres — was available at the Ghogha Dairy Colony while the land required to shift Bhalswa Dairy Colony would be 30 acres. The HC further directed that with the shifting, the existing dairy plots of Bhalswa Dairy Colony will be reverted to the land-owning agency.
The HC also clarified that while dairy plot allottees have illegally converted the use of these dairy plots into commercial and residential uses even though they were to be exclusively used as cattle sheds, no equities can be claimed by the occupants of the superstructures.
Meanwhile, the High Court directed the MCD commissioner, under whose jurisdiction the Ghogha Dairy falls, to hold a meeting next week for drawing up a detailed layout plan for the Ghogha Dairy Colony. The HC has further sought that the detailed layout plan be placed before the court before the next date of hearing, scheduled for August 23.
