
Gaushalas full: Panchkula streets turn into open air cattle pounds
Stray cattle roaming freely across public spaces in Panchkula, Haryana, have turned city streets into open-air cattle pounds because gaushalas have reached full capacity. The Panchkula municipal corporation missed its latest deadline of August 31 from over a year ago to clear city roads of stray cattle, and its cattle-catching drive has nearly stopped due to the lack of shelter space. This overcrowding leaves animals wandering on national highways, roads, parks, and waste bins, causing traffic jams, sanitation issues, and fatal road accidents. To address the stray bulls, the municipal corporation floated tenders for a Nandishala, but the project is stuck at the bidding stage. Resident welfare groups criticized the civic body for inaction on complaints. Mohit Gupta of the Sahyog group stated, "No cattle catching teams are operational as there is no space at gaushalas." SK Nayar, president of the Panchkula Citizens Welfare Association, urged the municipal corporation to act seriously and asked residents to stop feeding animals at non-designated spots. The municipal corporation faces ongoing pressure to create more shelter capacity and resume cattle-catching operations to clear the streets.






