Fix cattle crisis with policy, care and control

Withdraw cow cess, rope in pvt players

If the government cannot control the stray menace in the city, the levy of cow cess from people is totally unjustified. The first step the government should take is to immediately withdraw this cess and the amounts received so far on account of it should be directed toward hiring and financing some good private organisers who can remove this menace entirely. Secondly, some good animal lovers’ organisations from our city should voluntarily come forward and move stray cattle to nearby gaushalas. Last, but not the least, Durgiana Committee head, the revered Lakshmi Kanta Chawla, should take initiative to remove this menace, as cows are considered sacred in the Hindu religion. If the government fails to do the needful, the temple authorities can provide great help.

Sanjay Chawla

Tech-driven civic model needed

Beyond government efforts, community participation is crucial to solving the stray cattle problem. Urban residents, dairy owners and religious institutions must take joint responsibility. The local administration can incentivise community-led initiatives such as neighbourhood cow shelters or adoption programs. Mobile apps and helplines should be developed to allow citizens to report stray cattle and track their relocation. Drones and AI-enabled cameras could monitor hotspots for stray animal activity and trigger immediate response from authorities. Education campaigns should address the cultural and religious aspects of cattle abandonment, promoting respect while advocating responsible ownership. Urban planning should also incorporate designated areas for cattle movement in regions where livestock presence is common. Ultimately, the issue cannot be solved by the government alone. A tech-driven, community-supported model would not only reduce cattle-related road hazards but also foster collective civic responsibility and compassion toward animals, ensuring a more sustainable and inclusive solution.

Minakshi Khanna

Invest in Policy, infrastructure

In order to successfully curb the scourge of stray cattle in the city, the government needs to invest in policy and infrastructure. The cow cess fund should be transparently used to construct and maintain additional gaushalas (cow shelters) with adequate facilities. These shelters should be able to take care of abandoned and unproductive cattle. In addition, there should be regular drives to spot and remove stray cattle from the roads. Severe penalties must be imposed on owners who allow their cattle to stray. Microchipping of cattle can also be used to track ownership and deter abandonment. Furthermore, civic authorities need to work in coordination with animal welfare departments and NGOs to ensure humane handling of cattle. Public awareness campaigns can inform citizens about the effect of stray cattle on road safety and urban cleanliness. An enforceable, well-designed long-term policy is necessary to effectively deal with this problem.

Praneet Bubber

Build shelters, sheds for stray cattle

Stray cattle can be a great hazard. It’s definitely a nuisance! With state-of-the-art roads and high-speed traffic, they can pose a serious threat to life. The cow cess may simply be a way to fill the coffers by some means, but clearly, no stringent measures have been taken to curb the problem. The government and authorities should build shelters and sheds for these stray animals, and deploy proper staff and resources to nurture and nourish them. There should be vigilant carts and trucks to pick and carry them to these shelters whenever they are spotted on roads or wandering. It is the laxity on the part of the authorities that leads them to turn a deaf ear and ignore this important issue. With proper planning and resources, anything can be executed.

Dr Raman Gupta

Hold cattle owners accountable

It is appalling that despite charging a cow cess, the state government seems to have no effective plan to tackle the issue of stray cattle. Stray cows and bulls are not only hindering traffic but also posing a threat to public safety. To address this problem, the government should establish proper cattle shelters with adequate facilities for their upkeep. Strict enforcement of laws related to cattle straying should be implemented, and cow owners should be held accountable for letting their animals roam free. The cow cess collected should be utilised to fund initiatives aimed at managing stray cattle. NGOs and local communities can work together to raise awareness about responsible cattle ownership. It’s high time the government takes concrete steps to resolve this issue and ensure public safety.

Sarwan Singh

Accountability and action needed

The fact that the state government charges cow cess yet fails to address this issue is baffling. Stray cows and bulls pose a significant threat to public safety and hinder traffic. To tackle this problem, the government should prioritize establishing cattle shelters and enforcing laws that hold cow owners accountable for letting their animals roam free. The cow cess collected should be utilised to fund initiatives aimed at managing stray cattle. Collaboration with NGOs and local communities can also help raise awareness about responsible cattle ownership. It’s imperative that the government takes concrete steps to resolve this issue and ensure public safety. By doing so, we can create a safer and more orderly environment for all citizens.

Harbhajan Singh

Launch vaccination programme

Establishing shelters for stray cattle can provide them with food, shelter, and medical care.

Implementing sterilisation and vaccination programs can help control the population of stray cattle and prevent the spread of diseases.

Partnering with local NGOs and animal welfare organisations can help in rescuing and rehabilitating stray cattle.

Launching campaigns to educate people about responsible pet ownership and the consequences of abandoning cattle.

Encouraging farmers and cattle owners to adopt responsible practices such as proper tagging and registration of cattle.

Enforcing laws related to animal abandonment and cruelty can help prevent the problem.

Dr Sarpreet Singh Gill

Fine and strong measures needed

Herding strays and putting them in shelters is a task that can easily be done if the local administration shows efficiency and commitment. Cattle belonging to people should not be allowed to roam the streets. Any cattle found roaming should be taken to the shelter and released only when the owner is fined. Managing this situation will smoothen the traffic in the city.

Indu Aurora

Penalise those abandoning cattle

There is an urgent need to check the stray cattle menace. The authorities should establish more cow shelters with proper facilities, including food, water and veterinary care. A public-private partnership should fund and manage the shelters effectively. Even NGOs and religious groups should be encouraged to adopt stray cattle. Strict enforcement of law is also needed. The authorities should penalise owners who abandon cattle by way of fine or legal action. Illegal dairies should be banned from releasing unproductive cattle onto the streets.

Prof Sandeep Kumar Sharma

Maintain database of cattle ownership

The stray cattle menace is a growing problem in many areas. They cause accidents, damage crops and create public nuisance. Some effective and strict steps are needed to address this issue. All cattle should have mandatory tags, which could help track ownership. A database of cattle owners should be maintained to ensure accountability. Sterilisation and birth control methods should be introduced. The department concerned should implement animal birth control (ABC) programmes to control animal population. Public awareness and community involvement is also the need of the hour. The authorities should educate farmers and dairy owners on responsible cattle management. Community reporting systems (hotlines/apps) should be there to alert authorities on the stray cattle. Encourage adoption of abandoned cattle for farming or dairy purposes.

Mohit Sharma

Use cess to address traffic issues

The cow cess charged by the Amritsar MC is going waste due to non-seriousness attitude in maintaining a few cow shelters presently being run by the civic body. Keeping in view of growing number of cows and buffaloes on roads and to address traffic issues, funds from the cow cess should be used to open animal shelters out of the city limits. The maintenance of the shelters should be handed over to private players on the PPP model. The authorities should consider creating a separate department under the supervision of a PCS-rank official to get a survey done on the stray animals. Animals, especially cows and dogs, should be chip-tagged to check the menace.

Anil Vainaik

Set up gaushalas,animal shelters

The Punjab government is taking cow cess from people since 2016. The government had promised to the people to establish over 500 gaushalas in different districts so that stray cows can be given shelter. However, the government has failed on this front. There are around 1 lakh stray cows in Punjab. The govt should utilise cow cess in setting up gaushalas for stray cattle.

Dr Rohan Mehra

Incentivise existing private gaushalas

The state government is generating revenue from the cow cess, but it has not utilised the funds to implement the measures to address the stray cattle menace. Under Article 243 (W) of Constitution, the local bodies like Municipal Corporations and Gram Panchayats should manage cattle pounds. Hence while utilising the funds from cow cess, the state government must empower local bodies to establish and operate cattle pounds and gaushalas to house the stray cattle and provide them with the veterinary care. In addition to this, there is a need to incentivising the existing private gaushalas for feed, fodder and veterinary aid. Significant cow cess amount is being charged in the state and it is levied on the items like vehicles, electricity, liquor and cement bags.

Advocate MK Sharma

Amritsar