Cracking the whip on illegal dairy farms in the city, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC) has ordered the owners to shift to Ghogha Dairy or face sealing action. The civic body has also directed cancellation of allotted plots to owners who refuse to relocate their dairies.
The move aims to rid the city of stray cattle as well as illegally operating dairy farms. This apart, the officials have also been directed to prosecute the dairy owners who brand their cattle with hot iron for identification. Such people will be prosecuted for cruelty against animals, said the North Corporation officials.
Chairman of the Standing Committee in North Delhi Corporation, Mohan Bhardwaj, said the action has been directed to tackle the menace of stray cattle. “Officials have been directed to seal all illegally operating dairies within the jurisdiction of North Delhi Corporation. They have been asked to conduct regular inspection and if any unauthorised dairy is found to be running, the concerned officials will be held responsible,” he said.
The erstwhile unified MCD had provided 2,082 plots for dairy farms at Ghogha on the outskirts of Delhi. Of these, 1,397 plots were allotted to the dairy owners but a majority of them refused to relocate citing inadequate facilities, including water shortage. However, the civic body has given a final ultimatum to the dairy owners to shut down their business in the city areas, failing which their allotted plots would be cancelled and the money deposited will be forfeited. “We have ordered cancellation of their allotment and forfeit the amount deposited for the dairy plot at Ghogha, if owners refuse to shift from the city area. A weekly report in this regard will be submitted,” Bhardwaj said.
Over a thousand illegal dairies have been operating in various parts of Delhi. Out of these, 319 dairies were identified in North Delhi Corporation while 302 dairies in East and 374 dairies in South Delhi Municipal Corporation were found to be running illegally.
The Standing Committee chairman said, taking a serious view on the issue of cruelty against animals, the owners will also be prosecuted for putting identification mark on cattle with hot iron. Besides, the officials have been asked to identify areas where stray animals roam around the most and their owners so that they can be taken to task for the menace.
Officials said the illegal dairy owners, who have not booked or have not been allotted dairy plots on grounds of ineligibility at Ghogha dairy colony, have also been asked to close or shift their illegal dairies from the urban areas failing which the dairies would be sealed and the cattle would be impounded.