DEADLINE ENDS, U.P. COWS STILL ON THE ROADS

Lucknow, Jan. 13: Officials in Uttar Pradesh are yet to complete the relocation of stray cattle to shelters, even as the deadline set by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for shifting the bovines to proper facilities ended January 10.

On January 3, the Chief Minister had given district magistrates a week to ensure stray cattle were shifted to fenced shelters and provided veterinary care. The directions came amid reports that stray cattle were destroying crops. Farmers in some parts of UP had reportedly herded stray cattle into places like government schools to save their crops.

“Work is going on at all the places on war footing. All the district magistrates (DMs) are adopting innovative ways and means as per their local needs to implement the policy,” a senior official of the state animal husbandry department said.

He added that department had come across some innovative models. The Basti district administration has started a helpline for people to report stray cattle. —