The outgoing AAP government has passed a proposal to maintain the status quo on the shifting of dairies from Bhalswa to Ghoga dairy colony till a policy is finalised for the accommodation of its residents.
According to official sources on Wednesday, the council of ministers has also requested Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena to take a considerate view of the issue for the well-being of the ‘large number of people involved’.
“It is requested that the Lieutenant Governor takes a considerate view of the above, keeping in mind the far-reaching implications it holds for a significant number of families whose well-being and livelihoods are directly impacted,” the resolution read.
In 2019, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the High Court brought to light the challenges faced by dairy colonies in Delhi, including overcrowding, inadequate drainage, pollution, etc. Responding to these directives, the Government of NCT of Delhi embarked on a mission to address these pressing issues. The concerns raised by dairy farmers, who demanded uniform standards for accommodating dairy animals, added urgency to the matter.
In August 2019, a joint committee of MLAs, officers and dairy farmers was formed with the task of chalking out a standard policy for dairy farm accommodations, aligning with court orders. “The committee's first site visit to Gazipur Dairy Colony on August 8, 2019, revealed the on-ground realities. Subsequent meetings on September 17 and 24, 2019, led to a set of recommendations to resolve the identified issues and establish a uniform policy for dairy colonies in Delhi,” it noted.
However, the policy is yet to be formed, the sources said, adding that after the Delhi High Court issued a directive last year to relocate the dairies within four weeks, there was an urgency to finalise the policy.
As a result, a resolution recommending mixed land use and freehold ownership rights for dairy owners in these colonies was adopted by the Delhi Assembly in September last year. “Meanwhile, considering the dire circumstances affecting many familles, a resolution moved by Kuldeep Kumar, member, was adopted unanimously by the house on 27th September 2024, which recommends mixed land use and freehold ownership rights for dairy owners,” the proposal stated.
The resolution emphasises that the current restrictions on land use and ownership rights have severely impacted the livelihoods of many dairy owners. It mentions that most of them have been forced to shut down their dairies leading to significant economic distress.
The council of ministers has endorsed the resolution and recommended that until the proposed policy is approved and implemented, local authorities like the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board refrain from taking any adverse action against dairy owners, sources said.
It also recommended that the dairy farmers be permitted to undertake small-scale non-polluting activities to sustain their livelihoods, they said. Dairy farms in Delhi were established under the Master Plan in 1975-76 on the city's outskirts. However, with the rapid expansion and urbanisation, these once-peripheral locations integrated into the urban landscape.
This development led to challenges such as overcrowding, waste management issues, and environmental concerns, as dairy farms now coexist with residential and commercial zones.
