Drive against stray cattle ineffective

<div class="section0"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-size:="">NEW DELHI: Stray cattle continue to have a field day in the city, despite an MCD drive being conducted against illegal dairies. Most of the stray cattle are owned by these unauthorised dairies that let the cattle out after milking them. </span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">Even the south Delhi colonies, identified by the MCD as the focus of the drive after the unsuccessful initiative in Shahdara north and south, are yet to witness any major action.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">While MCD officials rattle off names like Kalkaji, R K Puram, Green Park, Greater Kailash I, II, Gulmohar Park and Govindpuri when asked about the colonies where action has been taken against illegal dairies, local residents have another tale to tell.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">MCD officials claim to have captured 160 cattle since March 28, but residents say the only big action against illegal dairies has taken place in R K Puram. </span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">"Action was due on March 28 at a lot of places, but nothing happened as the cattle-catching vehicles did not turn up," said a civic official. Gulmohar Park councillor, Arti Mehra, said no action took place in her area after March 28.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">"We were told the cattle-catching vehicles were sent to R K Puram," said Mehra. The MCD has a total of 24 cattle-catching vehicles, all of which do not have a designated driver. Kalkaji Federation of RWAs chairman, B S Chaudhry, also has a similar account to relate. </span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">"There is a large dairy behind the Krishna Main Market in Kalkaji that lets the animals out on the road. We have written many letters of complaint, but no action has ever been initiated against it," said Chaudhry.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">The main approach road to Kalkaji from Nehru Place — Ma Amritanandmayee Marg — is similarly taken over by cattle let out by the dairies operating illegally in the area. "There is a vegetable market on the stretch. Stray cattle and encroachments render walking in the area an impossible task," said senior citizen, Prabha Raina, who lives nearby. </span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">Meanwhile, the civic machinery in Shahdara (south) zone of MCD sprung into action after Times City published pictures of two bulls fighting it out in east Delhi’s Krishna Nagar on Monday. </span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">The errant bulls were captured and packed off to an animal shelter. MCD officials claim to have caught 250 stray cattle from the zone of which nine were trapped on Monday. </span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">"There are another 300 stray bulls in the area which we are in the process of trapping. But now the dairy owners are even opposing that. They are thrashing up our staff even if they try to catch bulls, in order to terrify us and prevent further action against the illegal dairies," said a local MCD official.</span></div> </div>