MCG has introduced a helpline, encouraging citizens to report injuries to stray animals, particularly cows. This initiative aims to facilitate their rescue and relocation to shelter homes.
The officials said that with the number of stray cows increasing on the roads, often causing snarls in the city, the residents can now report about it on the helpline number — 7290075866 — and the MCG team will provide an immediate solution.
The complaints related to other strays including monkeys and dogs can also be registered on this number.
Appealing to the cattle owners not to leave their cows on the roads, Ashish Singla, chief medical officer (CMO), MCG, said, “The cows straying on the roads disrupt the traffic and residents face inconvenience.
Once the residents report about the stray or injured cows, we will send our teams to shift these cows to our cow shelters.” A fine of Rs 5,100 is imposed on the cattle owners who let their cows stray on the roads. Some of the affected areas include Sikanderpur, Gurgaon-Faridabad road, and Palam Vihar, added Singla.
Narrowly escaping an accident on the Gurgaon-Faridabad road due to stray cows, Ankit Tripathi, a daily commuter, said, “Two to three cows had suddenly appeared in front of my car, and it is difficult to navigate. I was driving at a slow pace due to which I could come to a halt easily.”
Meanwhile, the Haryana government plans to establish the state’s first cow sanctuary on panchayat land to preserve gene banks and ensure the survival of cows. The animal husbandry department, MCG and Nuh district administration are jointly executing the project, which is likely to be complete by 2024.
Two areas are being considered for the project — 100 acres in Nuh’s Hassanpur village and another parcel in Farrukhnaga — which will have separate enclosures for desi and cross-bred cows, a pasture zone, an interpretation centre, and a veterinary hospital.
In February of this year, the Haryana Gau Seva Aayog (HGSA) unveiled its strategy to expand the number of cow shelters in the city, addressing the escalating issue of stray cows. The state government raised the budget for HGSA from Rs 40 crore to Rs 456 crore.