NAGPUR: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has launched drive against unauthorized cattle sheds across the city. The civic body has demolished one cattle shed and imposed a fine of Rs3000 on another cattle shed owner.

NMC's veterinary doctor Dr D Mahalle said the health department had recently issued notices to all the cattle shed owners inside the corporation limits. "Despite repeated warnings, a cattle shed owner from Friends Colony ignored the directives. On Tuesday, the department, along with anti-encroachment squad, razed the cattle shed. In another raid at Manewada, a fine of Rs3000 was slapped on one Sudhakar Mohad for keeping the shed in an unhygienic manner," said Dr Mahalle.

"Besides, the NMC's sanitation department is all set to launch zone-wise drive from September 1," said senior health officer Dr Ashok Urkude. A team of five officials will be formed at zone-level.

"Health inspectors and jamadars of every zone will be asked to carry out the action in their jurisdiction against the cattle-shed owners for not shifting their animals out of the NMC jurisdiction

," said Dr Urkude adding that the anti-encroachment squad will help them.Recently, municipal commissioner Shyam Wardhane had written a letter to the dairy development commissioner to cancel the licences of the cattle shed owners in city limits.

Meanwhile, cattle shed owners from North Nagpur will stage a demonstration in front of the NMC office in Civil Lines on Thursday at 1pm to lodge their protest. Shiv Sena corporator Bandu Talwekar, who will be leading the protest, said the decision was taken hastily. "Before launching its drive, the civic body should first construct cattle sheds at Bhandewadi and Gorewada," he said.