Despite the Uttarakhand Protection of Cow Progency Act, 2007 for the past seven years, the bovines can be seen straying into the roads of the town and causing accidents. In the absence of any concrete action on the ground, the presence of the act is proving meaningless, runs the critical refrain.
The act came into effect on July 19, 2007, which clearly stipulates that no one would leave cows free on the roads after milking them or leave the cow progeny to stray. In addition, it was mandatory to mark every animal individually.
According to the act, those found breaking the law could be slapped with a fine of `1,000 and awarded with one month’s imprisonment. However, things are the same even after so many years since its enforcement. Thanks to the lax municipal council, the number of stray animals wandering on the road has been increasing. Senior BJP leader Bhakar Gairola who is associated with the movement for Bovine protection slammed the State government and the civic body for being apathetic on the matter. “It is unfortunate that despite the laws being made, the lack of will on the part of the State Government and the civic body to implement it on the ground is aggravating the problem. Things remaining merely on paper are leaving the Bovines in misery. This is a blemish too on the face of the State that takes pride in protecting the specie,” he said.
However, when asked why things are so, executive officer New Tehri Municipal Corporation, Sanjay Kumar said that fund crunch has been impeding their plan to build ‘Gaushalas’, shelters for such animals. “We have sought money from the State Government,” he said, adding that they have been launching public awareness campaign from time to time to desist the common people from dealing with the animals in inhumane manner.