The Times of India 25.08.2012
All 1,051 cattle sheds in Nagpur illegal
NAGPUR: In a brazen
violation of government directives, officials of Dairy Development
Department gave permission for cattle sheds within city limits despite
total ban enforced by the State government in 2003. This makes all 1,051 cattle sheds situated in the city illegal. Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has now sought action against officials who had given the permission.
Municipal commissioner Shyam Wardhane,
who is taking serious note of cattle-sheds in the city, has written to
commissioner, dairy development department, Mumbai, requesting action
against the local officers. Wardhane told TOI, “government had placed a
ban on cattle sheds within 13 municipal corporations including NMC on
October 31, 2003. Still, cattle-sheds continue to be located in the city
that too in huge numbers. It is a violation of rules.”
NMC
figures say 1,051 cattle-sheds housing over 8,000 cattle exist within
the city. The dairy development department has given permission to 457
sheds. The cattle owners have to renew the licence every year but many
have not bothered. A senior NMC official told TOI that Wardhane has
asked for action against the sheds.
“Joint inspection will be
conducted by the NMC and dairy development department followed by action
against the cattle owners. Already, directives have been given to shift
all cattle sheds outside the city limit. NMC too is taking action,” he
said.
As has happened in the past, ruling party leaders have
started to create obstacles in action against the cattle sheds. A couple
of ruling party leaders along with cattle owners met chairman of
standing committee Dayashankar Tiwari
asking that action against the sheds be stopped. Tiwari told TOI no one
was against moving the cattle outside the city limit. “NMC had not
created any sheds outside the city limit for shifting. I directed the
officials not to take any action until the proposed cattle-sheds are
constructed. Cattle owners supply milk to the citizens in city and are
important for livelihood of many people. NMC is not shifting the slaughter houses situated in the city where cattle are butchered. These are live cattle and we can be lenient with them,” he said.
Wardhane, however, said shifting of cattle-sheds outside the city was
very important. “We cannot put all health of all citizens at risk to
support a handful of cattle owners. Numerous problems arise due to
cattle-sheds in the city. I will try to convince anyone who protests but
action against the sheds will not be stopped,” he said.
Health dept looks the other way
Whatever NMC officials say publicly, they are also to blame for the
cattle-sheds flourishing in city. No action has been taken despite
orders from the civic chief just to protect the cattle-owners who are
linked with influential leaders. One example is of a cattle-shed
situated in Pandhrabodi. In 2010, health department was directed to take
action against the owner and shift it by the then municipal
commissioner Sanjeev Jaiswal
during an inspection. Jaiswal was shocked to see the shed covering a
road and creating hygiene problems. The cattle owner had even covered a
nullah. The health department simply ignored the directive and shed
exists even now.
violation of government directives, officials of Dairy Development
Department gave permission for cattle sheds within city limits despite
total ban enforced by the State government in 2003. This makes all 1,051 cattle sheds situated in the city illegal. Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has now sought action against officials who had given the permission.
Municipal commissioner Shyam Wardhane,
who is taking serious note of cattle-sheds in the city, has written to
commissioner, dairy development department, Mumbai, requesting action
against the local officers. Wardhane told TOI, “government had placed a
ban on cattle sheds within 13 municipal corporations including NMC on
October 31, 2003. Still, cattle-sheds continue to be located in the city
that too in huge numbers. It is a violation of rules.”
NMC
figures say 1,051 cattle-sheds housing over 8,000 cattle exist within
the city. The dairy development department has given permission to 457
sheds. The cattle owners have to renew the licence every year but many
have not bothered. A senior NMC official told TOI that Wardhane has
asked for action against the sheds.
“Joint inspection will be
conducted by the NMC and dairy development department followed by action
against the cattle owners. Already, directives have been given to shift
all cattle sheds outside the city limit. NMC too is taking action,” he
said.
As has happened in the past, ruling party leaders have
started to create obstacles in action against the cattle sheds. A couple
of ruling party leaders along with cattle owners met chairman of
standing committee Dayashankar Tiwari
asking that action against the sheds be stopped. Tiwari told TOI no one
was against moving the cattle outside the city limit. “NMC had not
created any sheds outside the city limit for shifting. I directed the
officials not to take any action until the proposed cattle-sheds are
constructed. Cattle owners supply milk to the citizens in city and are
important for livelihood of many people. NMC is not shifting the slaughter houses situated in the city where cattle are butchered. These are live cattle and we can be lenient with them,” he said.
Wardhane, however, said shifting of cattle-sheds outside the city was
very important. “We cannot put all health of all citizens at risk to
support a handful of cattle owners. Numerous problems arise due to
cattle-sheds in the city. I will try to convince anyone who protests but
action against the sheds will not be stopped,” he said.
Health dept looks the other way
Whatever NMC officials say publicly, they are also to blame for the
cattle-sheds flourishing in city. No action has been taken despite
orders from the civic chief just to protect the cattle-owners who are
linked with influential leaders. One example is of a cattle-shed
situated in Pandhrabodi. In 2010, health department was directed to take
action against the owner and shift it by the then municipal
commissioner Sanjeev Jaiswal
during an inspection. Jaiswal was shocked to see the shed covering a
road and creating hygiene problems. The cattle owner had even covered a
nullah. The health department simply ignored the directive and shed
exists even now.
