Stray cattle plague Gurugram roads, pose risks to residents
Stray cattle continue to plague Gurugram roads, posing serious risks to traffic and public safety despite the Municipal Corporation’s efforts to address the issue.
Although the MCG has been attempting to manage the issue by capturing stray cattle and relocating them to cow shelters, challenges persist. Overcrowded shelters, inadequate tracking mechanisms and dairy farmers abandoning non-milking cattle on city streets exacerbate the problem.
Anil Kumar Yadav, president of the Residents’ Welfare Association of Hans Enclave in Ward No. 27, said, “There are too many stray animals in my colony. They have attacked and injured several people. Residents are very upset, and the MCG must take immediate action to capture and relocate them to shelters.”
Poonam Aggarwal, a resident of Sector 22, added, “Cattle often block roads, causing traffic congestion and inconvenience to commuters and pedestrians.”
Major issues
Overcrowded shelters: Existing cow shelters lack sufficient space to accommodate all stray cattle.
Ineffective tracking: Initiatives like microchipping cattle to monitor their movements remain underdeveloped, making it challenging to identify and manage stray animals.
Dairy farmer negligence: Some dairy farmers worsen the issue by abandoning non-productive cattle on city roads.
Public safety concerns: Stray cattle on roads pose significant risks to drivers and pedestrians, leading to accidents and instilling fear among residents.
Stray cattle are a nuisance not only on internal roads, but also on major thoroughfares such as Sohna Road near Badshahpur, Hero Honda Chowk to Basai and Dhankot Road, the stretch from Huda Metro Station to Hero Honda Chowk, Old Delhi Road, MG Road and near Rajiv Chowk, among others. The problem extends to key markets across the city.
Dr Ashish Singla, Chief Medical Officer of the MCG, said the civic body has hired two private agencies to capture stray cattle and relocate them to shelters. However, conflicts between locals and agency workers have occurred six times in the past year, with two incidents resulting in police complaints. “Residents must cooperate to resolve this issue,” he urged.
Dr Singla noted that the city currently has two cow shelters with a combined capacity of 3,600 cattle, supplemented by another shelter housing up to 1,500 animals. Additionally, a new shelter on five acres in Baliawas village is under construction, with boundary walls completed and shed construction underway.
When asked, Dr Singla admitted that no survey has been conducted to count the number of stray cattle in Gurugram. He attributed part of the problem to dairy owners abandoning cows once they stop producing milk.
