Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) in Gujarat has intensified its operations against unlicensed cattle owners on Thursday. The action follows recent incidents where stray cattle have caused fatalities. The VMC’s crackdown is set to continue for the next three months, aiming to enforce compliance and reduce the hazards posed by stray cattle in the city. In Ahmedabad, the municipal corporation (AMC) reported to the High Court that it has cleared 90 per cent of the city’s streets of stray cattle. A survey by the Gujarat State Legal Services Authority (GSLSA) revealed that stray cattle are present in all cities and towns across the state. A lumpy skin disease outbreak in 2022 reported a decrease in milk collection by approximately 100,000 liters per day in certain locations, highlighting the economic impact of unregulated cattle populations. The AMC has granted only 17 licenses to cattle owners, rejecting 114 applications due to inadequate space for housing the animals. This initiative led to the voluntary relocation of 14,858 animals out of theCity within a ten-day period, and 519 unclaimed bovines were moved to panjrapols (animal shelters) outside theCity.
